The present invention relates to a method for separating cesium and technetium from radioactive waste, which method comprises the sublimation of cesium pertechnetate, and an apparatus for carrying out this method. The separation includes the steps of obtaining the two elements cesium and technetium together from the waste and subsequently separating the two elements from each other. The aim of the present invention is to significantly reduce the activity of radioactive solid waste and to use the obtained radionuclides in an economical and technical manner. Additionally, the method allows elements of cesium and technetium to be separated directly from the operation of a vitrification, sintering, drying, combustion, cementing, or calcinating plant, thus obviating additional problems when carrying out the process.

The present invention relates to a method for separating cesium and technetium from radioactive waste, which method comprises the sublimation of cesium pertechnetate, and an apparatus for carrying out this method. The separation includes the steps of obtaining the two elements cesium and technetium together from the waste and subsequently separating the two elements from each other. The aim of the present invention is to significantly reduce the activity of radioactive solid waste and to use the obtained radionuclides in an economical and technical manner. Additionally, the method allows elements of cesium and technetium to be separated directly from the operation of a vitrification, sintering, drying, combustion, cementing, or calcinating plant, thus obviating additional problems when carrying out the process.

Apparatuses and methods for production of molybdenum targets, and the formed molybdenum targets, used to produce Tc-99m are described. The target includes a copper support plate having a front face and a back face. The copper support plate desirably has dimensions of thickness of about 2.8 mm, a length of about 65 mm and a width of about 30 mm; and the copper support plate desirably has either a circular or an elliptical cavity centrally formed therein by pressing molybdenum powder into the front face with a depth of about 200-400 microns. Also, the copper support plate includes cooling channels dispensed at the back face; wherein the copper support plate is water cooled by a flow of water during irradiation by a proton beam. Molybdenum powder is embedded and compressed onto the cavity of the copper support plate thereby creating a thin layer of molybdenum onto the copper support plate.

Apparatuses and methods for production of molybdenum targets, and the formed molybdenum targets, used to produce Tc-99m are described. The target includes a copper support plate having a front face and a back face. The copper support plate desirably has dimensions of thickness of about 2.8 mm, a length of about 65 mm and a width of about 30 mm; and the copper support plate desirably has either a circular or an elliptical cavity centrally formed therein by pressing molybdenum powder into the front face with a depth of about 200-400 microns. Also, the copper support plate includes cooling channels dispensed at the back face; wherein the copper support plate is water cooled by a flow of water during irradiation by a proton beam. Molybdenum powder is embedded and compressed onto the cavity of the copper support plate thereby creating a thin layer of molybdenum onto the copper support plate.

A system for spacecraft atmosphere CO.sub.2 capture that has a first heat exchanger configured to receive airflow from the spacecraft atmosphere and to cool the airflow via a first heat exchange with CO.sub.2-depleted air. The system further has a pre-cooler configured to receive and cool the airflow from the first heat exchanger, and has a second heat exchanger configured to receive the airflow from the pre-cooler. The second heat exchanger can cool the airflow via a second heat exchange with the CO.sub.2-depleted air. Deposition coolers can operate in a deposition mode in which CO.sub.2 from the airflow is deposited to generate said CO.sub.2-depleted air, and a sublimation mode in which deposited CO.sub.2 is sublimated into CO.sub.2 gas. A controller is configured to alternately cycle each of the first and second deposition coolers between the deposition mode and the sublimation mode.

A sublimation purification apparatus that includes a vacuum chamber; a tube housing positioned in the vacuum chamber; a boat in close contact with the tube housing; and heating units positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the boat and an outer surface of the tube housing, respectively, wherein a sublimation purification target material is contained in the boat, and at least one of the boat and the tube housing is formed of a metal.

A sublimation purification apparatus that includes a vacuum chamber; a tube housing positioned in the vacuum chamber; a boat in close contact with the tube housing; and heating units positioned adjacent to an outer surface of the boat and an outer surface of the tube housing, respectively, wherein a sublimation purification target material is contained in the boat, and at least one of the boat and the tube housing is formed of a metal.

A cabinet for a solid material container comprises a main body having a top wall, a side wall, and a bottom wall; an entry/exit portion which is attached to a portion of the main body, for putting in and taking out the solid material container; an exhaust duct attached to a portion of the main body; a heating portion for heating the solid material container; a temperature measuring portion for measuring a temperature of the solid material container, or of the heating portion; and a cooling blower for blowing cooling air toward the solid material container.

A method and a system for separating components is disclosed. A process liquid stream, containing a first component and a second component, is passed into an expansion device. The process liquid stream is expanded such that the first component and a first portion of the second component vaporize to form a process vapor stream and a second portion of the second component freezes to form a first solid product stream. The first solid product stream passes out of the expansion device. The process vapor stream passes into a direct-contact heat exchanger against a contact liquid stream. The first portion of the second component desublimates into the contact liquid stream as a second solid product stream. The contact liquid stream and the second solid product stream leave the direct-contact heat exchanger as a slurry stream. The process vapor stream leaves the direct-contact heat exchanger as a stripped process vapor stream.

A method and a system for separating components is disclosed. A process liquid stream, containing a first component and a second component, is passed into an expansion device. The process liquid stream is expanded such that the first component and a first portion of the second component vaporize to form a process vapor stream and a second portion of the second component freezes to form a first solid product stream. The first solid product stream passes out of the expansion device. The process vapor stream passes into a direct-contact heat exchanger against a contact liquid stream. The first portion of the second component desublimates into the contact liquid stream as a second solid product stream. The contact liquid stream and the second solid product stream leave the direct-contact heat exchanger as a slurry stream. The process vapor stream leaves the direct-contact heat exchanger as a stripped process vapor stream.