Development of a method for the determination of low levels of technetium-99

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 173; pp. 293 - 300
• Main Authors: Butterworth, J.C., Livens, F.R., Makinson, P.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-12-1995
• Subjects: Radiochemical separation; Rhenium; Ruthenium; Yield monitor; Ruthenium; Rhenium; Yield monitor; Radiochemical separation
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/0048-9697(95)04774-3

A radiochemical separation scheme for technetium is being developed in which rhenium is to be used as a yield monitor; those procedures which are most prone to technetium losses are to be avoided, and the final, purified material is to be capable of analysis by either radiometric or non-radiometric methods. A detailed investigation of the behaviour of technetium and other important elements (rhenium, as a yield monitor, and ruthenium, as a potential interference) in the proposed scheme has been undertaken and their behaviour in the individual stages of the procedure is described. These experiments show that rhenium can be used as a yield monitor; that the behaviour of ruthenium is complex, but that good decontamination is possible, and that high recoveries of technetium are possible from each stage of the procedure.