Feasibility study of Promethium-147 production as an industrial radionuclide through neutron irradiation of neodymium in Tehran Research Reactor (TRR)

Promethium is one of the rare earth elements of Lanthanides. This element is no found on the earth’s crust. All its isotopes are radioactive. The isotope 147Pm is a pure beta emitter and very useful in industry because of its radioactive specifications. To name its applications one can point to usage as beta source in nuclear gauges, self-luminary lamps and nuclear batteries. This radioisotope produces via two methods, one from extraction of fission products waste and the second from thermal neutron irradiation of 146Nd. In this research, natural neodymium was irradiated in Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) and the gamma and beta spectrums were obtained. In addition, theoretical calculations were done. In this way, acceptable consistency in the results was obtained and the activity and radioactivity of the products were compared