Rudi D. Neirinckx

The 178W/178Ta generator: Anion exchange behavior of 178W and 178Ta

Abstract The distribution coefficients for 178 W and the collection yields of 178 Ta were determined in a generator system with AGI-X8 resin (200–400 mesh chloride form) as adsorbent and dilute HCl as eluent. The influence on 178 Ta yield and 178 W breakthrough of H 2 O 2 concentration in the eluent, the age of the generator, the 178 W activity loaded, and the speed and number of elutions was examined.

Production and purification of tungsten-178

Abstract The feasibility of making large activity levels of 178 W using the high-current proton beam available at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer (BLIP) facility has been investigated. The radionuclide was produced by the ( p , 4 n ) reaction on 181 Ta. A 0.127 mm thick natural tantalum foil was irradiated at various incident proton energies in the range 47–97 MeV. The target was dissolved in a mixture of hydrofluoric and nitric acids, and the tungsten separated from the tantalum using an ion-exchange procedure. A Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrum of the purified 178 W demonstrated detectable activity only from the 178 W and its daughter radionuclide 178 Ta. With this procedure 100 mCi quantities of the parent nuclide could, for example, be produced by bombardments for 3 days with 47 MeV protons using beam currents averaging approximately 70 μA.