METHOD FOR CATION-EXCHANGE SEPARATION OF LUTETIUM-177 RADIONUCLIDE FROM YTTERBIUM IRRADIATED IN A NUCLEAR REACTOR Russian patent published in 2022 - IPC G21G1/06 C22B59/00 

FIELD: radioactive elements preparations production.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a technology for the production of preparations of radioactive elements. The method includes preparing a working solution of the separated elements in nitric or hydrochloric acid with a concentration in the range of 0.01-0.15 mol/l, sorption of lutetium-177 and ytterbium from the working solution on a column containing an ammonium ionic form of a strongly acidic sulfonic cation exchanger with microporous the structure of the matrix based on a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene, the height of the sorbent layer is at least 45 cm, and the volume of the sorbent in the column is set taking into account the mass of ytterbium in the working solution, but not more than 4 mg of Yb per 1 cm³ of the sorbent. After sorption of the separated elements, the column is washed first with a solution of nitric or hydrochloric acid with a concentration in the range of 0.01-0.15 mol/l, while the total amount of protons (H⁺) contained in the working and washing solutions is set in the range from 0.1 to 0.3 mmol H⁺ per 1 cm³ of sorbent. Then, with deionized water, the separation of lutetium-177 and ytterbium is carried out by washing the column with a solution of-hydroxyisobutyrate ammonium with a concentration in the range from 0.065 to 0.075 mol/l, having pH=5.0, at a filtration rate of the solutions through the column in the range from 1.0 up to 1.2 ml/(cm²⋅min).

EFFECT: ability to isolate lutetium-177 from samples of isotopically enriched ytterbium-176 irradiated with neutrons from a nuclear reactor, with sample weights ranging from tenths to several grams.

5 cl, 7 dwg, 4 tbl, 6 ex