Difference between revisions of "Radionuclide Generator"

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==== Learning Goals  ====
 
==== Learning Goals  ====
  
*Understand mother-daughter relations and radioactive equilibrium
+
*Understand mother-daughter relations and radioactive equilibrium  
*Understand how a radio-nuclide generator works and how it is used
+
*Understand how a radio-nuclide generator works and how it is used  
*Understand how radioactivity is "growing in"
+
*Understand how radioactivity is "growing in"  
 
*Training in handling radioactive material and safety procedures
 
*Training in handling radioactive material and safety procedures
  
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*Student guide - theory  
 
*Student guide - theory  
*Student guide - [[How to Make a 234mPa Radionuclide generator|making the <sup>234m</sup>Pa radionuklide generator]]
+
*Student guide - [[How to Make a 234mPa Radionuclide generator|making the <sup>234m</sup>Pa radionuklide generator]]  
*Student guide - [[How to Measure the Half Life of 234mPa|how to measure the half life of <sup>234m</sup>Pa]]
+
*Student guide - [[How to Measure the Half Life of 234mPa|how to measure the half life of <sup>234m</sup>Pa]]  
 
*Student&nbsp;guide - determining the half life of <sup>234m</sup>Pa  
 
*Student&nbsp;guide - determining the half life of <sup>234m</sup>Pa  
 
*Instructions to teachers and supervisors  
 
*Instructions to teachers and supervisors  
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*Uranyl nitrate - UO<sub>2</sub>(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub><sub></sub>  
 
*Uranyl nitrate - UO<sub>2</sub>(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub><sub></sub>  
 
*NaAc + 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 K<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>] in 1 L&nbsp;water)  
 
*NaAc + 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 K<sub>4</sub>[Fe(CN)<sub>6</sub>] in 1 L&nbsp;water)  
*5% citric acid (on 100 mL&nbsp;flasks, one for each student)
+
*5% citric acid (on 100 mL&nbsp;flasks, one for each student)  
*0.1 M&nbsp;AgNO<sub>3</sub> (on 50 mL&nbsp;flasks)
+
*0.1 M&nbsp;AgNO<sub>3</sub> (on 50 mL&nbsp;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).  
 
*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)
+
*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
+
*Sample holders to catch eluted drops from the colund and which can be mounted conveniently in the detector chamber  
 
*Detectors - GM&nbsp;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.&nbsp;
 
*Detectors - GM&nbsp;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.&nbsp;
  

Revision as of 04:07, 6 January 2011

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

Equipment

  • 2 M HCl on 100 mL flasks, one for each student)
  • DOWEX 50x4 (50-100 mesh)
  • Uranyl nitrate - UO2(NO3)2
  • NaAc + 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] in 1 L water)
  • 5% citric acid (on 100 mL flasks, one for each student)
  • 0.1 M AgNO3 (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).