John Darrell Bess

US Patent:

20110265605, Nov 3, 2011

Filed:

Apr 29, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/770178

Inventors:

David H. Meikrantz - Idaho Falls ID, US
James E. Werner - Idaho Falls ID, US
Roger N. Henry - Idaho Falls ID, US
Leigh R. Martin - Ammon ID, US
Bruce J. Mincher - Idaho Falls ID, US
John D. Bess - Idaho Falls ID, US

Assignee:

BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC - Idaho Falls ID

International Classification:

C22B 60/00

US Classification:

75396

Abstract:

Methods of producing plutonium-238 are disclosed. One method includes dissolving neptunium-237 in a nitric acid solution to produce a neptunium target solution, subjecting the neptunium target solution to neutron radiation to produce plutonium-238, and removing the plutonium-238 from the neptunium target solution. A second method includes exposing a solution of neptunium-237 to neutron radiation to produce plutonium-238, complexing the plutonium-238 with an organophosphorus compound, and separating the plutonium-238/organophosphorus compound complex from the solution of neptunium-237. A third method includes dissolving neptunium-237 to form a neptunium-237 target solution, exposing the neptunium-237 to thermal neutrons to produce plutonium-238, utilizing an organophosphorus compound to complex the plutonium-238 and the organophosphorus compound, extracting the plutonium-238/organophosphorus compound complex from the irradiated neptunium target solution, and recovering the plutonium-238.