Abstract
Molybdenum-99 and some other fission products such as promethium-147 are formed by the fission of 235U. Applying an efficient separation approach, the 147Pm can be isolated. The production of 147Pm as a by-product of previously optimized conditions for fission molybdenum-99 process is precisely evaluated. Considering the numerous radionuclides with various half-lives accompanying the 147Pm as impurities, a precise time window can be determined to perform an efficient separation process. The fission products activity calculations, using MCNPX and ORIGEN2.1 computer codes, were performed to achieve such a proper time window. Here, it is shown that 300 days after the end of bombardment (EOB), the radioactivity of the other radionuclides is reduced to 1% of 147Pm radioactivity. The chemical process needed to separate the remaining radionuclides is then explained in detail.
Funding source: Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI)
Acknowledgments
Ms. Marzieh Ebrahimkhani’s assistance is gratefully acknowledged.
Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Research funding: This work was supported through the grant provided by the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI).
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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