A quantitative description of the compatibility of technetium-selective chromatographic technetium-99m separation with low specific activity molybdenum-99.

Technetium-99m generators employing a technetium-selective stationary phase are a chromatographic instrument developed for use with Mo having low specific activity (LSA); particularly, Mo produced by electron accelerators. This paper presents a mathematical description of technetium-selective chromatographic (TSC) Tc separation and analyzes its compatibility with LSA Mo. We developed a theoretical formula for TSC Tc separation by discretizing its pertechnetate selectivity, and validated it using an electron linear accelerator and activated carbon-based TSC (AC-TSC) Tc generators.

Creation of Mo/Tc@C and Au@C and molecular-dynamics simulations.

The formation of middle- and/or high-weight atom (Mo, Au)-incorporated fullerenes was investigated using radionuclides produced by nuclear reactions. From the trace radioactivities of Mo/Tc or Au after high-performance liquid chromatography, it was found that the formation of endohedral and/or heterofullerene fullerenes in Mo/Tc and Au atoms could occur by a recoil process following the nuclear reactions. Furthermore, the Tc (and Au) atoms recoiled against β-decay remained present inside these cages.

Coprecipitation with samarium hydroxide using multitracer produced through neutron-induced fission of U toward chemical study of heavy elements.

For new chemical studies on heavy elements, we previously investigated the coprecipitation behaviors with samarium hydroxide for various elements. Herein, we report the coprecipitation experiment using multitracer produced by neutron-induced fission of U. The coprecipitation behaviors of 10 elements were investigated: new data were obtained for Sr, Ru, I, Pm, and Np.

Isolation, characterization and source analysis of radiocaesium micro-particles in soil sample collected from vicinity of Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant.

Radioactive caesium was released during the accident of Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) into the surrounding environment. In the current work, radiocaesium micro-particles (CsMPs) and radiocaesium-rich soil particles were selectively separated from soil particles as well as from each other using autoradiography-based procedure. The applied separation scheme is based on water dilution followed by drying of the soil sample prior to imaging plate autoradiography.

Desorption of radioactive cesium by seawater from the suspended particles in river water.

In 2011, the accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant dispersed radioactive cesium throughout the environment, contaminating the land, rivers, and sea. Suspended particles containing clay minerals are the transportation medium for radioactive cesium from rivers to the ocean because cesium is strongly adsorbed between the layers of clay minerals, forming inner sphere complexes. In this study, the adsorption and desorption behaviors of radioactive cesium from suspended clay particles in river water have been investigated.

Use of different surface covering materials to enhance removal of radiocaesium in plants and upper soil from orchards in Fukushima prefecture.

The effectiveness of a decontamination methodology whereby herbaceous plants were grown through different materials covering the soil surface followed by subsequent removal of the material, associated plant tissues and attached soil on Cs removal from soil was evaluated. Revegetation netting sown with Kentucky bluegrass and white clover had a high effectiveness in Cs removal when rolling up the plants, roots, and rhizosphere soil approximately 6 months after sowing. The removal rate was lower when there was higher Cs vertical migration down the soil profile.