Apparatus for production of lead 212 isotope

1. An apparatus for producing Pb-212 comprising:

an emanation box,

wherein the emanation box comprises an emanation source comprising a porous non-reactive material,

wherein the emanation box receives at least one of Th-228 and Ra-224 at an inlet,

wherein the at least one of Th-228 and Ra-224 decays to Rn-220 within the emanation box;

a carrier gas feed coupled to the emanation box,

wherein the carrier gas feed directs a carrier gas into the emanation box,

wherein the carrier gas carries the Rn-220 out of the emanation box through a carrier gas exit port of the emanation box coupled to a valve;

one or more Rn-220 targets coupled to the carrier gas exit port through the valve,

wherein the carrier gas carries the Rn-220 from the emanation box to the one or more Rn-220 targets,

wherein the Rn-220 decays into Pb-212 within the one or more Rn-220 targets;

wherein the one or more Rn-220 targets comprise at least one of a metal chalcogenide and a zeolite;

a liquid feed coupled to the one or more Rn-220 targets,

wherein the liquid feed directs a liquid into the one or more Rn-220 targets such that the liquid comes in contact with the carrier gas carrying the Rn-220 to the one or more Rn-220 targets,

wherein the Pb-212 resulting from decay of the Rn-220 is transferred to the liquid by contact between the carrier gas and the liquid; and

a Pb-212 collection container coupled to the one or more Rn-220 targets,

wherein the generated Pb-212 is directed into the Pb-212 collection container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carrier gas comprises an inert gas.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the emanation box further comprises:

a heat source; and

a shield structure positioned around the emanation source,

wherein the shield structure absorbs radiation generated by the decay of the at least one of Th-228 and Ra-224 in the emanation box.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the porous non-reactive material has a surface area between approximately 1 m 2 and approximately 100,000 m 2 , and wherein the porous non-reactive material comprises at least one of a metal, ceramic, or silica.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the porous non-reactive material comprises one or more fins, wherein the one or more fins are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, gold, platinum, tungsten, iridium, and combinations thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the emanation box receives at the least one of Th-228 and Ra-224 carried in a solvent; and the apparatus further comprises:

a shield structure positioned around the emanation source,

wherein the shield structure is operable to absorb radiation generated by radioactive decay of at the least one of Th-228 or Ra-224 in the emanation box;

a carrier gas feed port,

wherein the carrier gas feed port is operable to provide an inlet for the carrier gas directed into the emanation box;

a carrier gas exit port,

wherein the carrier gas exit port is operable to provide an exit for the carrier gas from the emanation box;

a heat source,

wherein the heat source is operable to provide heat to the emanation box to evaporate the solvent; and

an evaporation exit port,

wherein the evaporation exit port is operable to provide an exit for the evaporated solvent.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carrier gas feed further comprises:

an N 2 gas source;

a mass flow meter coupled to the N 2 gas source,

wherein the mass flow meter is operable to measure a mass flow rate of N 2 gas from the N 2 gas source; and

a control valve coupled to the N 2 gas source,

wherein the control valve is operable to control a flow rate of N 2 gas from the N 2 gas source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is an acid solution.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the acid solution is selected from the group consisting of HCl and HNO 3 .

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control unit coupled to the one or more Rn-220 targets, wherein the temperature control unit is operable to cool the liquid directed into the one or more Rn-220 targets through the liquid feed to a temperature at or below −72° C.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the one or more Rn-220 targets comprise a first Rn-220 target vessel and a second Rn-220 target vessel; and

the valve comprises a multi-way valve operable to selectively direct the carrier gas to the first Rn-220 target vessel or the second Rn-220 target vessel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the multi-way valve is configured to:

direct the carrier gas to the first Rn-220 target vessel for a first period of time; and

direct the carrier gas to the second Rn-220 target vessel for a second period of time.