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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2011

Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 93

Nuclear structure data pertaining to all nuclei with mass number A=93 (Se, Br, Kr, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag) have been compiled and evaluated and incorporated into the ENSDF data file. This publication for A=93 supersedes the previous publication by C.M. Baglin, Nuclear Data Sheets80, 1 (1997) (literature cutoff date November 1996) and subsequent revisions by C.M. Baglin of the ENSDF files for 93Br and {sup 93}Kr (literature cutoff 26 February 2001) and for {sup 93}Rh (literature cutoff 27 February 2001); it includes all data available prior to 15 December 2010. Significant changes since prior evaluations include the following: 2010Hw03 identified several high-spin states in {sup 93}Kr in {sup 252}Cf SF decay; in addition to the many low-spin levels already known in {sup 93}Rb from {beta}{sup -} decay, several higher-spin states have now been identified in a {sup 252}Cf SF decay study (2009Hw03); this SF decay has also been used to identify additional states in {sup 93}Sr (2003Hw01) and the {sup 238}U({sup 82}Se,X{gamma}) reaction (2007Bu35) has provided new information on {sup 93}Y. (HI,xn{gamma}) reaction studies have expanded our knowledge of the structure of {sup 93}Zr (2002Fo03, 2005Pa48), {sup 93}Nb (2007Wa45), {sup 93}Mo (2005Fu01), {sup 93}Tc (2003Ha22) and {sup 93}Pd (2004So04,2004Ru02). Considerable information on {sup 93}Nb was provided by a (p,2n{gamma}) study (2010Or01, 2006Or09, 2007Or01). The level schemes of {sup 93}Ru, {sup 93}Rh and {sup 93}Pd have undergone the most extensive revision thanks to studies of {sup 93}Rh {epsilon} decay (2004De40), {sup 94}Ag {epsilon}p decay (2004Mu30) and {sup 94}Ag p decay (2005Mu15, 2005Mu30), respectively. The half-life of the Zr member of this chain is of particular interest because of {sup 93}Zr's large contribution to long-term activity of nuclear reactor waste and also due to its potential as a supernova chronometer. During 2010, two new well-documented measurements of T{sub 1/2}({sup 93}Zr) were published (2010Ya01 and 2010Ca01); one agrees well with an earlier, undocumented measurement but, unfortunately, the other is many standard deviations lower for reasons which are not immediately apparent.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Incident-Energy Dependent Quenching of the Analyzing Power in Pre-Equilibrium Composite Particle Emission

The proton-induced pre-equilibrium process in the energy range of 100 to 160 MeV, which leads to emission of composite ejectiles such as {sup 3}He and {alpha}-particles, is discussed. New cross section and analyzing power measurements for the (p,{sup 3}He) reaction on {sup 93}Nb at an incident energy of 160 MeV are presented, and these are found to be in agreement with the prediction of a statistical multistep theoretical formulation. The observed quenching of the analyzing power is also reproduced well by the theory. The results are consistent with earlier work at lower incident energies and other nuclear species.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

NMR spin-lattice relaxation study of {sup 7}Li and {sup 93}Nb nuclei in Ti- or Fe-doped LiNbO{sub 3}:Mg single crystals

In this study, to understand the effects of paramagnetic impurities, we investigated the temperature dependent of the spin-lattice relaxation times of pure LiNbO{sub 3}, LiNbO{sub 3}:Mg, LiNbO{sub 3}:Mg/Ti, LiNbO{sub 3}:Mg/Fe, and LiNbO{sub 3}:Mg/Fe (thermally treated at 500°C) single crystals. The results for the LiNbO{sub 3}:Mg single crystals doped with Fe{sup 3+} or Ti{sup 3+} are discussed with respect to the site distribution and atomic mobility of Li and Nb. In addition, the effects of a thermal treatment on LiNbO{sub 3}:Mg/Fe single crystals were examined based on the T{sub 1} analysis of {sup 7}Li and {sup 93}Nb. It was found that the presence of impurities in the crystals induced systematic changes of activation energies concerning atomic mobility.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Distribution and mobility of lithium in NASICON-type Li1-xTi2-xNbx(PO4)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) compounds

Highlights: • Li{sub 1-x}Ti{sub 2-x}Nb{sub x}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) were prepared via solid-state reaction. • The substitution of Ti{sup 4+} by Nb{sup 5+} in LiTi{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} increases unit cell dimensions. • The Rietveld analysis of XRD patterns was performed to deduce location of Li ions. • LiTi{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} have the highest total conductivity and low activation energy. - Abstract: The NASICON-type Li{sub 1-x}Ti{sub 2-x}Nb{sub x}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) has been prepared using a conventional solid-state reaction and characterized by powder X-ray (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and impedance spectroscopy (IS). The substitution of Ti{sup 4+} by Nb{sup 5+} in LiTi{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} increases unit cell parameters of NASICON phases (S.G. R 3-bar c). The parallel XRD and NMR analysis confirmed the formation of secondary phases besides NASICON compounds. The NMR components detected in {sup 93}Nb and {sup 31}P MAS-NMR spectra have been ascribed to formation of crystalline NbPO{sub 5} and NASICON phases. The substitution of Ti{sup 4+} by Nb{sup 5+} produces detection of three equally spaced {sup 31}P MAS-NMR P(OTi){sub 4-n}(ONb){sub n} components, whose intensity changes with the Nb content of the NASICON phase. On the other hand, the broad {sup 31}P NMR band detected at ∼−130 ppm has been ascribed to the formation of an amorphous Nb phosphate that strongly affects conductivity of samples. At 355 K, total conductivity decreased from 1.2 × 10{sup −7} S cm{sup −1} (Ea = 0.49 eV) to 6.0 × 10{sup −9} S cm{sup −1} (Ea = 0.56 eV) when going from LiTi{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} to Li{sub 0.5}Ti{sub 1.5}Nb{sub 0.5}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}. This important decrease has been related to the increment of activation energy (stronger Li-network interaction); however, further studies are required to understand the deleterious effect of niobium in Li{sub 1-x}Ti{sub 2-x}Nb{sub x} (PO{sub 4}){sub 3} series.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2011

Role of angular momentum in the production of complex fragments in fusion and quasifission reactions

The influence of angular momentum on the competition between complete fusion followed by the decay of compound nucleus and quasifission channels is treated within the dinuclear system model. The charge distributions of the products in the reactions {sup 28}Si+{sup 96}Zr, {sup 4}He+{sup 130}Te, and {sup 40}Ca+{sup 82}Kr are predicted at bombarding energies above the Coulomb barrier. The results of calculations for the reactions {sup 93}Nb+{sup 9}Be,{sup 12}C,{sup 27}Al; {sup 84}Kr+{sup 27}Al; {sup 86}Kr+{sup 63}Cu; {sup 139}La+{sup 12}C,{sup 27}Al; and {sup 45}Sc+{sup 65}Cu are compared with the available experimental data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

NbF{sub 5} and TaF{sub 5}: Assignment of {sup 19}F NMR resonances and chemical bond analysis from GIPAW calculations

The {sup 19}F isotropic chemical shifts (δ{sub iso}) of two isomorphic compounds, NbF{sub 5} and TaF{sub 5}, which involve six nonequivalent fluorine sites, have been experimentally determined from the reconstruction of 1D {sup 19}F MAS NMR spectra. In parallel, the corresponding {sup 19}F chemical shielding tensors have been calculated using the GIPAW method for both experimental and DFT-optimized structures. Furthermore, the [M{sub 4}F{sub 20}] units of NbF{sub 5} and TaF{sub 5} being held together by van der Waals interactions, the relevance of Grimme corrections to the DFT optimization processes has been evaluated. However, the semi-empirical dispersion correction term introduced by such a method does not show any significant improvement. Nonetheless, a complete and convincing assignment of the {sup 19}F NMR lines of NbF{sub 5} and TaF{sub 5} is obtained, ensured by the linearity between experimental {sup 19}F δ{sub iso} values and calculated {sup 19}F isotropic chemical shielding σ{sub iso} values. The effects of the geometry optimizations have been carefully analyzed, confirming among other matters, the inaccuracy of the experimental structure of NbF{sub 5}. The relationships between the fluorine chemical shifts, the nature of the fluorine atoms (bridging or terminal), the position of the terminal ones (opposite or perpendicular to the bridging ones), the fluorine charges, the ionicity and the length of the M–F bonds have been established. Additionally, for three of the {sup 19}F NMR lines of NbF{sub 5}, distorted multiplets, arising from {sup 1}J-coupling and residual dipolar coupling between the {sup 19}F and {sup 93}Nb nuclei, were simulated yielding to values of {sup 93}Nb–{sup 19}F {sup 1}J-coupling for the corresponding fluorine sites. - Graphical abstract: The complete assignment of the {sup 19}F NMR lines of NbF{sub 5} and TaF{sub 5} allow establishing relationships between the {sup 19}F δ{sub iso} values, the nature of the fluorine atoms (bridging or terminal), the position of the terminal ones (opposite or perpendicular to the bridging ones), the fluorine charges, the ionicity and the length of the M–F bonds. Display Omitted - Highlights: • The {sup 19}F δ{sub iso} values of NbF{sub 5} and TaF{sub 5} have been determined. • The {sup 19}F chemical shielding tensors have been calculated using the GIPAW method. • A confident assignment of the {sup 19}F NMR lines of NbF{sub 5} and TaF{sub 5} is obtained. • The relationships between the {sup 19}Fδ{sub iso} values and the M–F bonds features are established.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

Exfoliation and thermal transformations of Nb-substituted layered titanates

Single-layer Nb-substituted titanate nanosheets of ca. 1 nm thickness were obtained by exfoliating tetrabutylammonium (TBA)-intercalated Nb-substituted titanates in water. AFM images and turbidity measurements reveal that the exfoliated nanosheets crack and corrugate when sonicated. Upon heating, the thermal transformation into anatase and further to rutile is retarded. This suppression of the phase transition upon higher valent substitution may promote technological applications of anatase thin films, hereunder development of films with TCO properties. Depending on the oxygen partial pressure during the transformation, the Nb-substitution into TiO{sub 2} provokes different defect situations and also electronic properties. At reducing conditions, Nb is incorporated as Nb{sup V} and an equivalent amount of Ti{sup IV} is transformed to Ti{sup III} as evidenced by XPS. Magnetic susceptibility data show accordingly paramagnetic behavior. For samples heated in air Ti{sup IV} and Nb{sup V} cations prevail, the latter is compensated by cation vacancies. {sup 93}Nb MAS NMR data prove that Nb is finely dispersed into the transformed (Ti,Nb)O{sub 2} oxide matrices without sign of Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5} (nano)precipitates. The Nb-O-Ti bonds and defects at cation sites are considered key factors for increasing the transformation temperatures for conversion of the nanosheets to anatase and finally into rutile. It is further tempting to link the delay in crystallization to morphology limitations originating from the nanosheets. The present work shows that layered Nb-titanates are appropriate precursors for formation of highly oriented Nb-substituted anatase thin films via delamination, reconstruction and subsequent heat treatment. - Graphical abstract: Layered Nb-titanates are appropriate precursors for formation of highly oriented Nb-substituted anatase thin films via delamination, reconstruction and subsequent heat treatment. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Single layer Nb-substituted nanosheets were obtained by exfoliation of layered titanates. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Nb(V) successfully introduced into anatase and rutile solid solutions. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Anatase obtained from reconstructed nanosheets exhibit enhanced thermal stability. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Oxygen partial pressure influences the valence of Nb in heat-treated samples. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Deposition of oriented thin Ti(Nb)O{sub 2} layers by spray coating was demonstrated.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

Dosimetry analyses of the Ringhals 3 and 4 reactor pressure vessels

A comprehensive series of neutron dosimetry measurements consisting of surveillance capsules, reactor pressure vessel cladding samples, and ex-vessel neutron dosimetry has been analyzed and compared to the results of three-dimensional, cycle-specific neutron transport calculations for the Ringhals Unit 3 and Unit 4 reactors in Sweden. The comparisons show excellent agreement between calculations and measurements. The measurements also demonstrate that it is possible to perform retrospective dosimetry measurements using the {sup 93}Nb (n,n') {sup 93m}Nb reaction on samples of 18-8 austenitic stainless steel with only trace amounts of elemental niobium. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2013

SUPERNOVA NEUTRINO NUCLEOSYNTHESIS OF THE RADIOACTIVE {sup 92}Nb OBSERVED IN PRIMITIVE METEORITES

The isotope {sup 92}Nb decays to {sup 92}Zr with a half-life of 3.47 × 10{sup 7} yr. Although this isotope does not exist in the current solar system, initial abundance ratios for {sup 92}Nb/{sup 93}Nb at the time of solar system formation have been measured in primitive meteorites. The astrophysical origin of this material, however, has remained unknown. In this Letter, we present new calculations which demonstrate a novel origin for {sup 92}Nb via neutrino-induced reactions in core-collapse supernovae (ν-process). Our calculated result shows that the observed ratio of {sup 92}Nb/{sup 93}Nb ∼ 10{sup –5} can be explained by the ν-process.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Atomic and electronic structure of Ni-Nb metallic glasses

Solid state {sup 93}Nb nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been employed to investigate the atomic and electronic structures in Ni-Nb based metallic glass (MG) model system. {sup 93}Nb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) isotropic metallic shift of Ni{sub 60}Nb{sub 35}Sn{sub 5} has been found to be ∼100 ppm lower than that of Ni{sub 60}Nb{sub 35}Zr{sub 5} MG, which is correlated with their intrinsic fracture toughness. The evolution of {sup 93}Nb NMR isotropic metallic shifts upon alloying is clearly an electronic origin, as revealed by both local hyperfine fields analysis and first-principle computations. This preliminary result indicates that, in addition to geometrical considerations, atomic form factors should be taken into a description of atomic structures for better understanding the mechanical behaviors of MGs.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2011

Measurement and simulation of the cross sections for nuclide production in {sup 93}Nb and {sup nat}Ni targets irradiated with 0.04- to 2.6-GeV protons

The cross sections for nuclide production in thin {sup 93}Nb and {sup nat}Ni targets irradiated by 0.04- to 2.6-GeV protons have been measured by direct {gamma} spectrometry using two {gamma} spectrometers with the resolutions of 1.8 and 1.7 keV in the {sup 60}Co 1332-keV {gamma} line. As a result, 1112 yields of radioactive residual nuclei have been obtained. The {sup 27}Al(p, x){sup 22}Na reaction has been used as a monitor reaction. The experimental data have been compared with the MCNPX (BERTINI, ISABEL), CEM03.02, INCL4.2, INCL4.5, PHITS, and CASCADE07 calculations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Retrospective dosimetry analyses of reactor vessel cladding samples

Reactor pressure vessel cladding samples for Ringhals Units 3 and 4 in Sweden were analyzed using retrospective reactor dosimetry techniques. The objective was to provide the best estimates of the neutron fluence for comparison with neutron transport calculations. A total of 51 stainless steel samples consisting of chips weighing approximately 100 to 200 mg were removed from selected locations around the pressure vessel and were sent to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for analysis. The samples were fully characterized and analyzed for radioactive isotopes, with special interest in the presence of Nb-93m. The RPV cladding retrospective dosimetry results will be combined with a re-evaluation of the surveillance capsule dosimetry and with ex-vessel neutron dosimetry results to form a comprehensive 3D comparison of measurements to calculations performed with 3D deterministic transport code. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Separation of Zirconium from Zircaloy-2 for Spent Nuclear Fuel Cladding Applications using a Chloride Volatility Process

The United States produces a large amount of cladding material from used nuclear fuel, expected to approach 1,000 MT/year for the next 50 years. The recovery of zirconium from the cladding material would represent a ∼50% savings on the geologic waste disposal requirement, and savings of >$40 M/year due to the cost of hafnium-free zirconium. Previous simulation studies have shown that in the irradiated cladding, the major activation products found are {sup 125}Sb, {sup 60}Co, and {sup 93m}Nb, and the major fission product found is {sup 137}Cs. These radioisotopes make it impossible to treat the cladding as low level waste. In a chlorination method, zirconium cladding reacts with Cl{sub 2} at 350-380 deg. C to produce mainly ZrCl{sub 4}. The zirconium tetrachloride has a relatively low boiling point (sublimes at 330 deg. C) which allows its separation from other products, and so it can be treated as low level waste for disposal or recycling. This chlorination approach has been proposed for the reprocessing of zirconium. However, previous work has observed element impurities (Fe, Sn, Cr, Cs, Sb, and Nb) in the recovered ZrCl{sub 4} meaning that additional steps are necessary in a chlorination process previous to the reduction of ZrCl{sub 4} to the metallic form. The chlorination process for zirconium reprocessing has been highly encouraged as it has proven more efficient than previous mechanical processes, redox processes, and other chemical methods such as iodination. The overall goal of this project is to develop the road map for a chlorination process that will yield high purity zirconium. The current study focuses on the recovery of ZrCl{sub 4} from non-irradiated alloys used as nuclear fuel cladding. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Niobium tungsten oxides for high-rate lithium-ion energy storage

Here, the maximum power output and minimum charging time of a lithium-ion battery – key parameters for its use in, for example, transportation applications – depend on mixed ionic– electronic diffusion. While the discharge/charge rate and capacity can be tuned by varying the composite electrode structure, ionic transport within the active particles represents a fundamental limitation. Thus, to achieve high rates, particles are frequently reduced to nanosize dimensions despite this being disadvantageous in terms of volumetric packing density as well as cost, stability, and sustainability considerations. As an alternative to nanoscaling, we show that complex niobium tungsten oxides with topologically frustrated polyhedral arrangements and dense µm-scale particle morphologies can rapidly and reversibly intercalate large quantities of lithium. Multielectron redox, buffered volume expansion, and extremely fast lithium transport approaching that of a liquid lead to extremely high volumetric capacities and rate performance for both crystallographic shear structure and bronze-like niobium tungsten oxides. The active materials Nb 16 W 5 O 55 and Nb 18 W 16 O 93 offer new strategies toward designing electrodes with advantages in energy density, scalability, electrode architecture/complexity and cost as alternatives to the state-ofthe art high-rate anode material Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 . The direct measurement of solid-state lithium diffusion coefficients (DLi) with pulsed field gradient NMR demonstrates room temperature DLi values of 10–12–10–13 m 2 × s -1 in the niobium tungsten oxides, which is several orders-ofmagnitude faster than typical electrode materials and corresponds to a characteristic diffusion length of ~10 µm for a 1 minute discharge. Materials and mechanisms that enable lithiation of µm particles in minutes have implications for high power applications, fast charging devices, all-solid-state batteries, and general approaches to electrode design and material discovery.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Excitation functions for (p,x) reactions of niobium in the energy range of E p = 40–90 MeV

In this paper, a stack of thin Nb foils was irradiated with the 100 MeV proton beam at Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Isotope Production Facility, to investigate the 93 Nb(p,4n) 90 Mo nuclear reaction as a monitor for intermediate energy proton experiments and to benchmark state-of-the-art reaction model codes. A set of 38 measured cross sections for nat Nb(p,x) and nat Cu(p,x) reactions between 40–90 MeV, as well as 5 independent measurements of isomer branching ratios, are reported. These are useful in medical and basic science radionuclide productions at intermediate energies. The nat Cu(p,x) 56 Co, nat Cu(p,x) 62 Zn, and nat Cu(p,x) 65 Zn reactions were used to determine proton fluence, and all activities were quantified using HPGe spectrometry. Variance minimization techniques were employed to reduce systematic uncertainties in proton energy and fluence, improving the reliability of these measurements. The measured cross sections are shown to be in excellent agreement with literature values, and have been measured with improved precision compared with previous measurements. This work also reports the first measurement of the nat Nb(p,x) 82m Rb reaction, and of the independent cross sections for nat Cu(p,x) 52g Mn and nat Nb(p,x) 85g Y in the 40–90 MeV region. The effects of nat Si(p,x) 22,24 Na contamination, arising from silicone adhesive in the Kapton tape used to encapsulate the aluminum monitor foils, is also discussed as a cautionary note to future stacked-target cross section measurements. Finally, a priori predictions of the reaction modeling codes CoH, EMPIRE, and TALYS are compared with experimentally measured values and used to explore the differences between codes for the nat Nb(p,x) and nat Cu(p,x) reactions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Investigating high-energy proton-induced reactions on spherical nuclei: Implications for the preequilibrium exciton model

A number of accelerator-based isotope production facilities utilize $100-200$ MeV proton beams due to the high production rates enabled by high-intensity beam capabilities and the greater diversity of isotope production brought on by the long range of high-energy protons. However, nuclear reaction modeling at these energies can be challenging because of the interplay between different reaction modes and a lack of existing guiding cross section data. A Tri-lab collaboration has been formed between the Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos, and Brookhaven National Laboratories to address these complexities by characterizing charged-particle nuclear reactions relevant to the production of established and novel radioisotopes. In the inaugural collaboration experiments, stacked-targets of niobium foils were irradiated at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer ($E_p=200$ MeV) and the Los Alamos Isotope Production Facility ($E_p=100$ MeV) to measure $^{93}$Nb(p,x) cross sections between $50-200$ MeV. The results were compared with literature data as well as the default calculations of the nuclear model codes TALYS, CoH, EMPIRE, and ALICE. The default code predictions largely failed to reproduce the measurements. Therefore, we developed a standardized procedure, which determines the reaction model parameters that best reproduce the most prominent reaction channels in a physically justifiable manner. Overall, the primary focus of the procedure was to determine the best parameterization for the pre-equilibrium two-component exciton model. This modeling study revealed a trend towards a relative decrease for internal transition rates at intermediate proton energies ($E_p=20-60$ MeV) in the current exciton model as compared to the default values. The results of this work are instrumental for the planning, execution, and analysis essential to isotope production.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

K-shell internal conversion coefficient for M4 decay of the 30.8 keV isomer in 93 Nb

The 30.8 keV (1/2) – isomeric state in $^{93}_{41}$Nb decays by an M4 transition to the (9/2) + ground state. Here, we have measured the K-shell internal conversion coefficient α K for this transition in order to test the validity of current methods of calculation for a case with relatively low atomic number, low transition energy, and a high value of α K . Taking the fluorescence yield of niobium to be 0.751(4), we obtain α K = 2.56(9) × 10 4 , a result that agrees with the Dirac-Fock calculations that take into account the presence of a K vacancy in the final state, and disagrees by 1.7 standard deviations with calculations that ignore the vacancy. We also determine the energy of the isomeric state to be 30.760(5) keV, a fourfold improvement in precision over the currently accepted value.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Separation of Protactinium Employing Sulfur-Based Extraction Chromatographic Resins

Protactinium-230 (t 1/2 = 17.4 d) is the parent isotope of 230 U (t 1/2 = 20.8 d), a radionuclide of interest for targeted alpha therapy (TAT). Column chromatographic methods have been developed to separate no-carrier-added 230 Pa from proton irradiated thorium targets and accompanying fission products. Results reported within this paper demonstrate the use of novel sulfur bearing chromatographic extraction resins for the selective separation of protactinium. The recovery yield of 230 Pa was 93 ± 4% employing a R 3 P=S type commercially available resin and 88 ± 4% employing a DGTA (diglycothioamide) containing custom synthesized extraction chromatographic resin. The radiochemical purity of the recovered 230 Pa was measured via high purity germanium γ-ray spectroscopy to be >99.5% with the remaining radioactive contaminant being 95 Nb due to its similar chemistry to protactinium. Finally, measured equilibrium distribution coefficients for protactinium, thorium, uranium, niobium, radium, and actinium on both the R 3 P=S type and the DGTA resin in hydrochloric acid media are reported, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗