US2554476A - Radioactive product and method of producing the same - Google Patents
Radioactive product and method of producing the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US2554476A US2554476A US72753A US7275349A US2554476A US 2554476 A US2554476 A US 2554476A US 72753 A US72753 A US 72753A US 7275349 A US7275349 A US 7275349A US 2554476 A US2554476 A US 2554476A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- americium
- tantalum
- solution
- pentavalent
- ions
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000002285 radioactive effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 18
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 15
- 229910052695 Americium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 44
- LXQXZNRPTYVCNG-UHFFFAOYSA-N americium atom Chemical compound [Am] LXQXZNRPTYVCNG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 38
- 229910052715 tantalum Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 15
- GUVRBAGPIYLISA-UHFFFAOYSA-N tantalum atom Chemical compound [Ta] GUVRBAGPIYLISA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 15
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000002244 precipitate Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910001460 tantalum ion Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L Carbonate Chemical compound [O-]C([O-])=O BVKZGUZCCUSVTD-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- BPUBBGLMJRNUCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxygen(2-);tantalum(5+) Chemical compound [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Ta+5].[Ta+5] BPUBBGLMJRNUCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910001936 tantalum oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 27
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 7
- -1 americium ions Chemical class 0.000 description 6
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012876 carrier material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000356 contaminant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 231100000206 health hazard Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 238000012332 laboratory investigation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011259 mixed solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- TYJJADVDDVDEDZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M potassium hydrogencarbonate Chemical compound [K+].OC([O-])=O TYJJADVDDVDEDZ-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 230000001376 precipitating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012857 radioactive material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011160 research Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21G—CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
- G21G4/00—Radioactive sources
- G21G4/04—Radioactive sources other than neutron sources
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01G—COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
- C01G35/00—Compounds of tantalum
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01G—COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
- C01G56/00—Compounds of transuranic elements
- C01G56/001—Preparation involving a liquid-liquid extraction, an adsorption or an ion-exchange
- C01G56/002—Preparation involving a liquid-liquid extraction, an adsorption or an ion-exchange by adsorption or by ion-exchange on a solid support
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a radioactive product comprising americium impregnated on a suitable stable carrier, and to a method of producing the same.
- One of the chief objects of the present invention is to provide a radioactive product containing americium.
- Another object is to provide a process for separating americium from contaminants in a suitably conditioned aqueous solution by utilizing a suitable carrier material.
- the artificially produced radioactive element americium has a five hundred year half-life and its specific alpha activity amounts to 7.0 alpha disintegrations per minute per milligram. From a consideration of this property of americium it is evident that when handling this element, even in milligram amounts, special precautions and techniques must be developed and perfected in order to provide adequate protection for the operator.
- a solution of americium is treated with a suitable oxidizing agent in order to oxidize the americium to the pentavalent state.
- the solution is then heated to a temperature of from 50 C. to 100 C. and to it is added a solution containing tantalum, also in the pentavalent state. Heating is continued and the tantalum precipitates from solution.
- the resulting pentavalent tantalum precipitate probably a hydrated oxide, carries with it the pentavalent americium.
- the precipitate comprising americium and its tantalum carrier are removed from the solution in any appropriate conventional manner, preferably by centrifuging the mixture.
- This precipitate comprises a separate article of commerce which may serve as a means for storing, retaining, or handling americium, as an intermediate or as a product useful for any purpose relying upon the intense radioactivity of the retained americium.
- a radioactive product comprisin a hydrated pentavalent tantalum oxide precipitate carrying americium values in which the amount of said americium is less than the amount of tantalum contained therein.
- a radioactive composition containing tantalum and americium comprising mixing a carbonate solution of pentavalent tantalum ions with a solution containing pentavalent americium ions, and heating said solution to precipitate tantalum as a hydrated oxide thereby carrying americium from the solution.
- a radioactive product comprising americium values carried by a hydrated pentavalent tantalum oxide
- the steps comprising mixing a carbonate solution containing pentavalent tantalum. ions with a solution containing pentavalent americium ions while the latter solution is at a temperature in the range of about C. to 0., heating said solution to precipitate the tantalum ions as a hydrated oxide thereby carrying said americium ions from the solution, and separating the precipitate from said solution.
- a process for the production of a radioactive composition comprising, mixing a heated solution containing pentavalent americium ions with a carbonate solution containing pentavalent tatalum ions, and precipitating said tantalum ions by heating said solution thereby carrying americium as a hydrated oxide from said solution.
- the radioactive product comprising pentavalent americium values carried by a hydrated pentavalent tantalum oxide precipitate.
- a process for the manufacture of a radioactive product comprising mixing a heated solution containing about 5 micrograms per milliliter of pentavalent americium ions with an amount of a 2.75 M potassium carbonate solution containing about '75 milligrams per milliliter of pentavalent tantalum ions equivalent to about four-tenths of its own volume, heating said mixed solutions for at least one half hour to precipitate said pentavalent tantalum ions and thereby carry said americium ions from the solution, and separating the precipitate from said solution.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Inorganic Compounds Of Heavy Metals (AREA)
Description
Patented May 22, 1951 RADIOACTIVE PRODUCT AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME Louis B. Werner, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the United States Atomic Energy Commission No Drawing. Application January 25, 1949, Serial No. 72,753
6 Claims.
The present invention relates to a radioactive product comprising americium impregnated on a suitable stable carrier, and to a method of producing the same.
One of the chief objects of the present invention is to provide a radioactive product containing americium.
Another object is to provide a process for separating americium from contaminants in a suitably conditioned aqueous solution by utilizing a suitable carrier material.
It is a still further object of the present invention to remove americium from a solution by means of an added carrier of pentavalent tantalum, thereby forming a radioactive product consisting of americium interspersed with the tantalum carrier.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following description.
In general, the artificially produced radioactive element americium has a five hundred year half-life and its specific alpha activity amounts to 7.0 alpha disintegrations per minute per milligram. From a consideration of this property of americium it is evident that when handling this element, even in milligram amounts, special precautions and techniques must be developed and perfected in order to provide adequate protection for the operator.
Since in the art of americium chemistry one is dealing with extremely small amounts of material, it is readly apparent that these amounts may be so small as to defy ordinary physical and chemical manipulations. For example, in the field of radiochemistry, some compounds are obtained in concentrations 10 or more times as dilute as those concentrations usually encountered in other fields of chemistry. Accordingly, at such concentrations, precipitation of insoluble compounds usually fails since the attainable initial concentrations of such compounds are less than those required for precipitation. In this connection, in addition to the all-important safety considerations which must be constantly observed, serious problems regarding adsorption of trace material on the Walls of the container are encountered. Moreover, the actual physical manipulations, such as filtering, transferring from one vessel to another, and the like, necessitate the development of special techniques substantially dilierent from those normally used in the macro-chemical field.
From the foregoing, it is evident that conventional means and practices are generally inadequate for removal of small amounts of this highly radioactive element from solution while simultaneously forming a suitable radioactive product having the property of retaining the valuable americium. I have now discovered that certain substances when placed in contact with trace amounts of radioactive americium have the ability to cause the americium to become associated therewith by various mechanisms which at present are not well understood. These substances are generally termed carriers; 1. e., these substances carry the associated trace amounts of americium along with them through various chemical and physical operations during particular processes. It has also been found that the trace amounts of americium can be embodied with their carriers, and from this property it is possible by using such a carrier to increase the quantities involved so that standard chemical and physical means may appropriately be employed to process the americium.
In carrying out my invention, a solution of americium is treated with a suitable oxidizing agent in order to oxidize the americium to the pentavalent state. The solution is then heated to a temperature of from 50 C. to 100 C. and to it is added a solution containing tantalum, also in the pentavalent state. Heating is continued and the tantalum precipitates from solution. The resulting pentavalent tantalum precipitate, probably a hydrated oxide, carries with it the pentavalent americium. The precipitate comprising americium and its tantalum carrier are removed from the solution in any appropriate conventional manner, preferably by centrifuging the mixture. This precipitate comprises a separate article of commerce which may serve as a means for storing, retaining, or handling americium, as an intermediate or as a product useful for any purpose relying upon the intense radioactivity of the retained americium.
ExampZe.A 5 microliter portion of an aqueous americium solution containing about 5 micrograms of pentavalent americium per milliliter is heated at deg. C. for five minutes. About 2 microliters of a 2.75 M K2003 solution of pentavalent tantalum containing '75 milligrams of tantalum per milliliter is added. The resulting solution is heated for at least one-half hour and then centrifuged. Alpha analysis of approximately 1 microliter portions indicate that about 20% of the pentavalent americium is carried.
The herein disclosed process for the manufacture of a. radioactive product of americium should not be construed as being restricted to laboratory investigations of americium merely because the phenomenon of carrying is associated with microscopic or trace amounts. On the contrary, it is to be stressed that in industrial as well as research processes involving the use of radioactive materials such as americium, the amounts involved are extremely small because of the great expense and health hazard involved.
While the salient features of this invention have been described in detail with respect to one embodiment, it will, of course, be apparent that numerous modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention, and it is not therefore desired to limit the invention to the exact details shown, except in so far as they may be defined in the following claims.
What is claimed is: L
1. A radioactive product comprisin a hydrated pentavalent tantalum oxide precipitate carrying americium values in which the amount of said americium is less than the amount of tantalum contained therein.
2. In a process for the production of a radioactive composition containing tantalum and americium, the steps comprising mixing a carbonate solution of pentavalent tantalum ions with a solution containing pentavalent americium ions, and heating said solution to precipitate tantalum as a hydrated oxide thereby carrying americium from the solution.
3. In a process for the production of a radioactive product comprising americium values carried by a hydrated pentavalent tantalum oxide, the steps comprising mixing a carbonate solution containing pentavalent tantalum. ions with a solution containing pentavalent americium ions while the latter solution is at a temperature in the range of about C. to 0., heating said solution to precipitate the tantalum ions as a hydrated oxide thereby carrying said americium ions from the solution, and separating the precipitate from said solution.
4. In a process for the production of a radioactive composition, the steps comprising, mixing a heated solution containing pentavalent americium ions with a carbonate solution containing pentavalent tatalum ions, and precipitating said tantalum ions by heating said solution thereby carrying americium as a hydrated oxide from said solution.
5. The radioactive product comprising pentavalent americium values carried by a hydrated pentavalent tantalum oxide precipitate.
6. In a process for the manufacture of a radioactive product, the steps comprising mixing a heated solution containing about 5 micrograms per milliliter of pentavalent americium ions with an amount of a 2.75 M potassium carbonate solution containing about '75 milligrams per milliliter of pentavalent tantalum ions equivalent to about four-tenths of its own volume, heating said mixed solutions for at least one half hour to precipitate said pentavalent tantalum ions and thereby carry said americium ions from the solution, and separating the precipitate from said solution.
LOUIS B. WERNER.
No references cited.
Claims (2)
1. A RADIOACTIVE PRODUCT COMPRISING A HYDRATED PENTAVALENT TANTALUM OXIDE PRECIPITATE CARRYING AMERICIUM VALUES IN WHICH THE AMOUNT OF SAID AMERICIUM IS LESS THAN THE AMOUNT OF TANTALUM CONTAINED THEREIN.
1. IN A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A RADIOACTIVE COMPOSITION CONTAINING TANTALUM AND AMERICIUM, THE STEPS COMPRISING MIXING A CARBONATE SOLUTION OF PENTAVALENT TANTALUM IONS WITH A SOLUTION CONTAINING PENTAVALENT AMERICIUM IONS, AND HEATING SAID SOLUTION TO PRECIPITATE TANTALUM AS A HYDRATED OXIDE THEREBY CARRYING AMERICIUM FROM THE SOLUTION.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US72753A US2554476A (en) | 1949-01-25 | 1949-01-25 | Radioactive product and method of producing the same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US72753A US2554476A (en) | 1949-01-25 | 1949-01-25 | Radioactive product and method of producing the same |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| US2554476A true US2554476A (en) | 1951-05-22 |
Family
ID=22109544
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| US72753A Expired - Lifetime US2554476A (en) | 1949-01-25 | 1949-01-25 | Radioactive product and method of producing the same |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US2554476A (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2658724A (en) * | 1949-05-23 | 1953-11-10 | Arps Jan Jacob | Warning system for controlled rotary drilling |
| US2968733A (en) * | 1955-12-05 | 1961-01-17 | Diversey Corp | Method of contamination detection |
| US3070696A (en) * | 1955-09-19 | 1962-12-25 | Union Oil Co | Radioactive solid particles for use in well logging |
| US3133025A (en) * | 1960-05-04 | 1964-05-12 | Standard Oil Co | Radiation standard source |
| US3258404A (en) * | 1962-09-14 | 1966-06-28 | Socony Mobil Oil Co Inc | Method of performing a radiationinduced chemical reaction |
| US4431580A (en) * | 1980-01-29 | 1984-02-14 | Alkem Gmbh | Method for purifying a nitric-acid U/Pu solution |
-
1949
- 1949-01-25 US US72753A patent/US2554476A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| None * |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2658724A (en) * | 1949-05-23 | 1953-11-10 | Arps Jan Jacob | Warning system for controlled rotary drilling |
| US3070696A (en) * | 1955-09-19 | 1962-12-25 | Union Oil Co | Radioactive solid particles for use in well logging |
| US2968733A (en) * | 1955-12-05 | 1961-01-17 | Diversey Corp | Method of contamination detection |
| US3133025A (en) * | 1960-05-04 | 1964-05-12 | Standard Oil Co | Radiation standard source |
| US3258404A (en) * | 1962-09-14 | 1966-06-28 | Socony Mobil Oil Co Inc | Method of performing a radiationinduced chemical reaction |
| US4431580A (en) * | 1980-01-29 | 1984-02-14 | Alkem Gmbh | Method for purifying a nitric-acid U/Pu solution |
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