YTTRIUM-90 PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
A method of producing the therapeutic medical isotope yttrium-90 (Y-90) is provided that includes providing a zirconium target composed at least partially of Zr-90, directing an electron beam onto a high-Z converter to generate a neutron beam having a maximum energy level of 12.1 MeV, and directing the neutron beam onto the zirconium target to isotopically convert at least a portion of the Zr-90 to the Y-90 medical isotope.
1 . A method of producing Y-90 by an isotopic conversion reaction comprising:
providing a zirconium target comprising Zr-90;
directing an electron beam onto a high-Z converter to generate a neutron beam having a maximum energy level below the threshold of a Zr-90(n,2n)Zr-89 reaction; and
directing the neutron beam onto said zirconium target to isotopically convert at least a portion of said Zr-90 to a Y-90 isotope.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said neutron beam has an energy level above the threshold of the Zr-90(n,p)Y-90 reaction.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the zirconium target has a thickness in the range of about 1 cm to about 10 cm.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the neutron beam has an energy level below about 12.1 MeV.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the neutron beam has an energy level between about 4.7 MeV and about 12.1 MeV
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein said zirconium target is formed of natural zirconium material.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said zirconium target is formed of enriched zirconium material.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein said high-Z converter is uranium material.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein said high-Z converter is lead material.