Evaluation of promethium-147 production by irradiating natural neodymium using medium-flux Tehran research reactor

Promethium-147 ( 147 Pm) has numerous applications in the manufacturing of unique devices for monitoring production processes. Previous studies have focused on the production of 147 Pm using high-flux reactors. Moreover, the applied separation method is often based on extraction chromatography. In this study, the production of 147 Pm is evaluated by the irradiation of a neodymium (Nd) target in a medium-flux reactor, and 147 Pm is separated from the Nd-target material using Ln resin. Theoretical calculations and practical experiments have been performed, and an acceptable level of compliance between the predicted results and the obtained practical activity was observed. Furthermore, 147 Pm with sufficient activity and minimal impurities was produced using the developed process.