METHOD OF EXTRACTING MOLYBDENUM-99 FROM SOLUTION OF IRRADIATED URANIUM TARGETS Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC C22B34/34 C22B3/40 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to production of radioactive tracers, particularly methods of processing irradiated uranium targets to separate splinter molybdenum-99 - a parent radionuclide for charging technetium-99m generators. A method for extraction separation of Mo-99 from an irradiated highly enriched uranium-aluminium composite includes dissolution thereof in nitric acid in the presence of mercury. The method further includes precipitation of mercury iodide in the presence of a reducing agent, reducing iron (III) to iron (II) in a channel; performing combined extraction of molybdenum and uranium in continuous mode using a synergetic (equimolar) mixture of TBP and D2EHPA; washing the extract with concentrated HNO₃; separating Mo and U with a strongly acidic solution of hydrogen peroxide; washing the re-extract from uranium using a recycled extractant and re-extraction of uranium with a solution of a mixture of DTPA and methylamine carbonate. The process is carried out in centrifugal extractors in cyclic mode with return of the Mo re-extract to the extraction area and recycling thereof when the batch of the initial solution finishes.

EFFECT: coefficient of extraction of Mo exceeds 90% and coefficient of purification of Mo from radionuclides is greater than 10⁵.

7 cl, 1 dwg, 4 tbl, 2 ex