Difference between revisions of "Radionuclide Generator"
From mn/safe/nukwik
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*2 M [https://us.vwr.com/stibo/hi_res/AA33257-Q9_11092007.pdf HCl (MSDS)] on 100 mL flasks, one for each student) | *2 M [https://us.vwr.com/stibo/hi_res/AA33257-Q9_11092007.pdf HCl (MSDS)] on 100 mL flasks, one for each student) | ||
*[http://www.gfschemicals.com/msdssearch/atn/MSDS%20US_English_DOWEX%C2%AE%2050WX4-200%2C%20CATION-EXCHANGE%20RESIN.pdf DOWEX 50x4 (MSDS)] (50-100 mesh) | *[http://www.gfschemicals.com/msdssearch/atn/MSDS%20US_English_DOWEX%C2%AE%2050WX4-200%2C%20CATION-EXCHANGE%20RESIN.pdf DOWEX 50x4 (MSDS)] (50-100 mesh) | ||
− | *[http://gerhardl.phpwebhosting.com/MSDS%20PDF/UV/Uranyl%20Nitrate.pdf | + | *[http://gerhardl.phpwebhosting.com/MSDS%20PDF/UV/Uranyl%20Nitrate.pdf Uranyl Nitrate (MSDS)] - UO<sub>2</sub>(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub> |
*[http://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/20860.htm NaAc (MSDS)] + K<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>] solution (on 100 mL flasks, one for each student) (prepared by mixing 8 g NaC<sub>2</sub>H<sub>3</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and 40 g [http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927708 K<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>] (MSDS)] in 1 L water) | *[http://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/20860.htm NaAc (MSDS)] + K<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>] solution (on 100 mL flasks, one for each student) (prepared by mixing 8 g NaC<sub>2</sub>H<sub>3</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and 40 g [http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927708 K<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>] (MSDS)] in 1 L water) | ||
*5% [https://us.vwr.com/stibo/hi_res/EM1_00241_9029_11232009.PDF citric acid (MSDS)] (on 100 mL flasks, one for each student) | *5% [https://us.vwr.com/stibo/hi_res/EM1_00241_9029_11232009.PDF citric acid (MSDS)] (on 100 mL flasks, one for each student) |
Revision as of 11:23, 28 June 2012
This lab exercise was developed for the UiO KJM 5911 course. The students will prepare a ion-exchange collumn using DOWEX-50 ion-exchange material and extract 234Th from a 234U solution. The thorium sticks to the ion exchanger and 1.17-min 234Pa will grow inn. The column can be milked once every 12 min. The students use 234Pa samples to measure its half life.
Learning Goals
- Understand mother-daughter relations and radioactive equilibrium
- Understand how a radio-nuclide generator works and how it is used
- Understand how radioactivity is "growing in"
- Training in handling radioactive material and safety procedures
Explanation and Exercise Guide
- Student guide - theory
- Student guide - making the 234mPa radionuklide generator
- Student guide - how to measure the half life of 234mPa
- Student guide - determining the half life of 234mPa
- Instructions to teachers and supervisors
- Experience and feed-back from teachers (please add yours also!)
Equipment
- 2 M HCl (MSDS) on 100 mL flasks, one for each student)
- DOWEX 50x4 (MSDS) (50-100 mesh)
- Uranyl Nitrate (MSDS) - UO2(NO3)2
- NaAc (MSDS) + K4[Fe(CN)6] solution (on 100 mL flasks, one for each student) (prepared by mixing 8 g NaC2H3O2 and 40 g K4[Fe(CN)6 (MSDS)] in 1 L water)
- 5% citric acid (MSDS) (on 100 mL flasks, one for each student)
- 0.1 M AgNO3 (MSDS) (on 50 mL flasks)
- Suitable columns which can be fitted with a stopper connected to a rubber ball so it can be pressurized (to quickly elute drops with short lived 234Pa from the column).
- Stop watches (one for each student)
- Sample holders to catch eluted drops from the colund and which can be mounted conveniently in the detector chamber
- Detectors - GM counters works well, but we have also used plastic scintillators mounted on PMTs and NaI-detectors. High efficiency is necessary to get god counting statistics even after the first 5-6 minutes.
Safety Aspects
- Chemical safety - nothing particulary dangerous, 2 M HCl and 0.1 M AgNO3 should of course be handled according to normal safety precations. DOWEX residues and waste should be collected and handled according to normal procedures.
- Rad. safety - very small amounts of uranyl nitrate is used, so rad. safety is mostly about regulations and not a real healt hazzard. Remember to collect the DOWEX from the ion-exchange collumns in separate containers as it is contaminated with 24-day 234Th (will be none-radioactive after one year).