research

Radiochemical separation of 7Be from the cooling water of the neutron spallation source SINQ at PSI

Abstract

7Be is a key radionuclide for investigation of several astrophysical processes and phenomena. In addition, it is used as a tracer in wear measurements. It is produced in considerable amounts in the cooling water (D2O) of the Spallation Induced Neutron Source (SINQ) facility at PSI by spallation reactions on 16O with the generated fast neutrons. A shielded ion-exchange filter containing 100 mL of the mixed-bed ion exchanger LEWATIT was installed as a bypass for the cooling water into the cooling loop of SINQ for three months. The collected activity of 7Be was in the range of several hundred GBq. Further, the 7Be was separated and purified in a hot-cell remotely-controlled using a separation system installed. With the exception of 10Be, radioactive byproducts can be neglected, so that this cooling water could serve as an ideal source for highly active 7Be-samples. The facility is capable of producing 7Be with activities up to 1 TBq per year. The 7Be sample preparation is described in detail and the possible uses are discussed. In particular some preliminary results of 7Be ion beam production are presente

    Similar works