The rapid radiochemical reparation of radioactive praseodymium from radioactive cerium

Abstract

In order to determine the half life, the decay scheme and other characteristics of a radioactive nuclide, it is important to obtain a sample of very high radiochemical purity. The time interval from the end of irradiation to the beginning of counting is very important, especially in the measurement of the decay constants of short lived radionuclides. In order to obtain pure-short-lived radioactive cerium and pure short-lived radioactive praseodymium from a praseodymium metal target (99-9 per cent pure) irradiated at the NBS Linac, the following two requirements must be met: (1) the rapid transfer of the target material; (2) the rapid dissolution and separation of cerium from praseodymium.