US EPA

1436402 

Journal Article 

Thorium-229 for medical applications 

Du, MT; Peretz, F; Boll, RA; Mirzadeh, S 

2004 

Yes 

ACS Symposium Series
ISSN: 0097-6156
EISSN: 1947-5918 

ACS SYMPOSIUM SERIES 

868 

193-203 

WOS:000188742000013 

Medical researchers are assessing the ability of several
alpha-emitting radioisotopes to treat cancer and reduce tumor. burden. In particular, Bi-213 (t
(1/2) = 45.6 min) attached to tumor specific antibodies has been under clinical investigations
for treatment of certain cancers. Bi-213 is a decay product of Ac-225 (t(1/2) = 10.0 d), itself
an alpha emitter. Currently the domestically-produced Supply of Ac-225, however, is limited by
the availability of the parent radionuclide, Th-229 (t(1/2) = 7340 y). Th-229, in turn, is a
decay product of highly fissile U-233, Which is currently stored at ORNL and is now scheduled for
long-term storage. In this paper we describe the primary separation of Th-229 from U-233
stockpile and further purification of this radioisotope from trace levels of uranium and
plutonium. The chemical separation process is primarily based on the well known chemical behavior
of these actinides on anion-exchange resins in both nitric and hydrochloric acid solutions.