Feasibility studies on the production of essential radioisotopes (24Na and 32P) using the Ghana Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (GHARR-1)

Feasibility studies on the production of 32P and 24Na using a Miniature Neutron Source Reactor named Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1) has been conducted. A theoretical model of the cyclic activation technique was developed for the simulation of specific activities under varying parameters. Specific activity values estimated for four cycles of irradiation with activation parameters falling within the specifications of the reactor were experimentally validated. Experimented results were compared to those theoretically estimated for both 24Na and 32P. Experimented specific activity values for both radioisotopes generally fell below their theoretical values but recorded activity build-ups from one cycle to the other. The 24Na nuclide showed a regular pattern for the increase in specific activity from one cycle to the next with an average percentage difference of experimented to theoretical value of 19%. The 32P nuclide showed an irregular pattern for the increase in specific activity from one cycle to the next with an average percentage difference of experimental to theoretical value of 11%. The specific activities experimentally attained, with reference to activity levels used for various applications in agriculture and industry suggests the cyclic activation technique can be used for the production of radioisotopes of appreciable activities using low power research reactors, which are characterised with limited excess core reactivity and cannot sustain long periods of irradiation. (au)