Methods of producing and recovering plutonium-238

a plutonium and radioisotope technology, applied in chemical to radiation conversion, nuclear engineering, conversion outside reactor/acceleration, etc., can solve the problems of reducing the supply of pu-238, consuming no alternative production process, and limited foreign supplies of pu-238. , to achieve the effect of eliminating time, cost, and hazards for personnel, high purity and improved efficiency
US20110265605A1Inactive Publication Date: 2011-11-03BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE LLC
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE LLC
Publication Date
2011-11-03
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

Methods of producing plutonium-238 are disclosed. One method includes dissolving neptunium-237 in a nitric acid solution to produce a neptunium target solution, subjecting the neptunium target solution to neutron radiation to produce plutonium-238, and removing the plutonium-238 from the neptunium target solution. A second method includes exposing a solution of neptunium-237 to neutron radiation to produce plutonium-238, complexing the plutonium-238 with an organophosphorus compound, and separating the plutonium-238 / organophosphorus compound complex from the solution of neptunium-237. A third method includes dissolving neptunium-237 to form a neptunium-237 target solution, exposing the neptunium-237 to thermal neutrons to produce plutonium-238, utilizing an organophosphorus compound to complex the plutonium-238 and the organophosphorus compound, extracting the plutonium-238 / organophosphorus compound complex from the irradiated neptunium target solution, and recovering the plutonium-238.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 468,679 to Meikrantz et al., entitled “METHODS OF PRODUCING CESIUM-131,” filed on May 19, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] This invention was made with government support under Contract Number DE-AC07-05ID14517 awarded by the United States Department of Energy. The government has certain rights in the invention.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention, in various embodiments, relates generally to methods of producing and recovering radioisotopes. More specifically, the invention, in various embodiments, relates to methods of producing and recovering plutonium-238 (Pu-238).BACKGROUND

[0004] Pu-238 is used to generate electrical power, such as in radioisotope thermoelectric generators and radioisotope heater units, in situations where solar energy or intern...

Claims

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