Separation of radio-chemically pure ¹⁰⁶Ru from radioactive waste for the preparation of brachytherapy sources: an insight of process development study

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the separation of radiochemically pure ¹⁰⁶Ru from acidic high-level liquid waste. Optimized process utilizes oxidation of Ru species to volatile RuO₄ using potassium metaperiodate and selective extraction to chlorinated carbon tetrachloride. The process yielded a maximum of about 70% extraction efficiency. Quantitative stripping of Ru(III) from the organic phase was obtained using an aqueous solution of hydrazine sulfate. It is established the process is effective for the production of radiochemically pure ¹⁰⁶Ru and the product is suitable for the preparation of brachytherapy sources for the treatment of a different kind of cancer of the eye.

KEYWORDS:

• ¹⁰⁶Ru
• actual high-level waste (HLW)
• brachytherapy source

Acknowledgements

Authors thank Dr R K Mishra, Shri Darshit Mehta, SmtVidyaThorat for producing the cesium lean waste. Our sincere thank to Dr Anil Kumar, RSSD, BARC for radiometric assay of the ruthenium product solution.