METHOD OF PRODUCING NANOSTRUCTURED TARGET FOR PRODUCTION OF MOLYBDENUM-99 RADIOISOTOPE Russian patent published in 2016 - IPC G21G1/08 

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to reactor technology of producing molybdenum-99 radioisotope (⁹⁹Mo), which serves a base for creation of radioisotope technetium-99m generators (^99mTc). This method includes production of molybdenum-99 radioisotope at reaction ⁹⁸Mo(n,γ)⁹⁹Mo, carried out in a stream of slow neutron nuclear reactor and is carried out using a matrix-buffer of mesoporous inorganic materials, which channels are supplied with molybdenum compounds. Production of target is carried out by impregnation of activated carbon with specific surface area more than 300 m²/g of ammonium paramolybdate solution (NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄ and subsequent heat treatment, as a result, on the surface of the channels nano-layers MoO₃ are formed. Fraction of recoil atoms ⁹⁹Mo, leaving layers MoO₃ and localized in the buffer depends on thickness of applied layers. Average thickness of nanolayers MoO₃ applied in series into channels is set by number of applications and is limited by the effective diameter of channels. After irradiation the separation of core recoil containing activated carbon and starter nanoparticles MoO₃ is achieved by elution of more than 97% MoO₃ from the target 20% solution of water ammonia. Following the process of extracting cores recoil of a matrix is implemented by gasification of coal component of the matrix by combustion.

EFFECT: technical result provides simple method of making the target, higher efficiency of producing ⁹⁹Mo due to creation of nano-layers over the entire volume of the matrix, which enables to achieve high homogeneity of “nanolayer-Mo - buffer”, providing efficient use of the starting material and increases efficiency of collecting recoil atoms, obtaining a uniform distribution of molybdenum in the volume of activated carbon during precipitation of molybdenum coating on surface of its mesopores.

3 cl, 1 ex