Compositions comprising high levels of high specific activity copper-64, and process for preparing said compositions. The compositions comprise from about 2 Ci to about 15 Ci of copper-64 and have specific activities up to about 3800 mCi copper-64 per microgram of copper. The processes for preparing said compositions comprise bombarding a nickel-64 target with a low energy, high current proton beam, and purifying the copper-64 from other metals by a process comprising ion exchange chromatography or a process comprising a combination of extraction chromatography and ion exchange chromatography.

An irradiation target for the production of radioisotopes, having at least one plate defining a central opening, and a first elongated central member passing through the central opening of the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is retained thereon, wherein the at least one plate and the first elongated central member are both formed of materials that produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by way of neutron capture.

An aqueous assembly has a negative coefficient of reactivity with a magnitude. The aqueous assembly includes a vessel and an aqueous solution, with a fissile solute, supported in the vessel. A reactivity stabilizer is disposed within the aqueous solution to reduce the magnitude of the negative coefficient of reactivity of the aqueous assembly during operation of the aqueous assembly.

Reactor target assemblies are provided that can include a housing defining a perimeter of at least one volume and Np or Am spheres within the one volume. Reactor assemblies are provided that can include a reactor vessel and a bundle of target assemblies within the reactor vessel, at least one of the target assemblies comprising a housing defining a volume with Np or Am spheres being within the volume. Irradiation methods are also provided that can include irradiating Np or Am spheres within a nuclear reactor, then removing the irradiated spheres from the reactor and treating the irradiated spheres.

An isotope production system, emanation generator, and process are disclosed for production of high-purity radioisotopes. In one implementation example, high-purity Pb-212 and/or Bi-212 isotopes are produced suitable for therapeutic applications. In one embodiment the process includes transporting gaseous radon-220 from a radium-224 bearing generator which provides gas-phase separation of the Rn-220 from the Ra-224 in the generator. Subsequent decay of the captured Rn-220 accumulates high-purity Pb-212 and/or Bi-212 isotopes suitable for direct therapeutic applications. Other high-purity product isotopes may also be prepared.

.sup.225actinium is produced from .sup.226radium by irradiating a liquid .sup.226radium target by means of protons, deuterons or gamma irradiation in an irradiation device (2) and by extracting the produced .sup.225actinium out of the irradiated liquid target solution in a first extraction device (6). The liquid target solution from which the .sup.225actinium has been removed is then irradiated again to produce further .sup.225actinium therein. The liquid target solution is preferably circulated, in a closed loop (4), over the irradiation device and in a further closed loop (7) over the first extraction device (6). An advantage of such a method is that the irradiated target solution does not need to be dried and re-dissolved to be able to separate the produced actinium from the radium and no further drying and re-dissolving step is needed for producing the liquid target again starting from the separated radium. The radium target can thus be recycled in a more efficient and safer way, especially in view of the radon gas which is continuously produced by the decay of .sup.226radium.

According to one aspect, the present description concerns a target (20) for the production of nuclear particles. The target comprises a shell (24) formed by a surface of revolution and mounted in rotation about an axis of rotation (21) that coincides with an axis of revolution of the shell. The target further comprises a reservoir comprising a target material in the liquid state during use, the target material being suitable for producing the nuclear particles; a target material raising device configured to entrain, in operation, the target material from the reservoir toward an upper surface (244) of the shell; a gutter formed along an external perimeter (245) of the shell and configured to receive, in operation, droplets derived from a film (22) of target material induced by centrifugal action on said upper surface of the shell as the shell is rotated; at least one return pipe forming a fluid connection between the gutter and the container; an inlet pipe configured, in operation, to let in a beam of accelerated particles into a zone of impingement of said accelerated particles with the shell, said zone of impingement being situated on said upper surface of the shell, the interaction of said accelerated particles with the target material circulating on said upper surface of the shell generating said nuclear particles

According to one aspect, the present description concerns a target (20) for the production of nuclear particles. The target comprises a shell (24) formed by a surface of revolution and mounted in rotation about an axis of rotation (21) that coincides with an axis of revolution of the shell. The target further comprises a reservoir comprising a target material in the liquid state during use, the target material being suitable for producing the nuclear particles; a target material raising device configured to entrain, in operation, the target material from the reservoir toward an upper surface (244) of the shell; a gutter formed along an external perimeter (245) of the shell and configured to receive, in operation, droplets derived from a film (22) of target material induced by centrifugal action on said upper surface of the shell as the shell is rotated; at least one return pipe forming a fluid connection between the gutter and the container; an inlet pipe configured, in operation, to let in a beam of accelerated particles into a zone of impingement of said accelerated particles with the shell, said zone of impingement being situated on said upper surface of the shell, the interaction of said accelerated particles with the target material circulating on said upper surface of the shell generating said nuclear particles

The invention provides a system for containing irradiated particles, the system having a housing having a closed upstream end and an open downstream end; an axially disposed tunnel extending from the downstream end to the upstream end, wherein longitudinally extending regions of the tunnel define a plurality of threaded surfaces; a sample cup positioned within the tunnel and proximal to the closed upstream end; threaded plugs matingly received by the threaded surfaces so as to provide at least one seal between the sample cup and the atmosphere external of the housing; and a plurality of deformable substrates disposed between the plugs.

The invention provides a system for containing irradiated particles, the system having a housing having a closed upstream end and an open downstream end; an axially disposed tunnel extending from the downstream end to the upstream end, wherein longitudinally extending regions of the tunnel define a plurality of threaded surfaces; a sample cup positioned within the tunnel and proximal to the closed upstream end; threaded plugs matingly received by the threaded surfaces so as to provide at least one seal between the sample cup and the atmosphere external of the housing; and a plurality of deformable substrates disposed between the plugs.