Preparation of extraction resin for radio lanthanides separation

The present work presents the methodology that was developed for the preparation of one extractant resin with the aim of HDEHP, to separate radio lanthanides with serial atomic numbers. In this case it is exemplified with the separation of the following elements: Gadolinium-161 and the Terbium-161; this last radioisotope it is a beta emitting (β-) that has a great potential to be used in therapy, also in nuclear medicine and in oncology, this is due to the high penetration power of their β- particles that can kill to the cancerous cells and to inhibit the growth of the same ones. To be able to separate them it is necessary to appeal to extremely selective separation techniques, since the chemical properties of these elements are very similar. The chromatography is one of the more used analytical tools, this is due to its great sensibility and the selectivity in the compounds separation, in particular the use of the extractive chromatography has shown the feasibility of carrying out this type of separations for this type of elements. The resin with base of HDEHP was absorbed in an inert support under diverse preparation conditions. The extractant properties of the resin, in relation to the elements Gd and Tb (distribution coefficients), its were determined by means of the dynamic method, using as eluent solutions of nitric acid. The Gd-159 was prepared by irradiation of Gd-168 with thermal neutrons and the Tb-161 it is the result of the radioactive decay of the Gd-161 that is produced in turn with the irradiation with neutrons of Gd-160. The coefficients of distribution of Gd and Tb, using the prepared resin under diverse conditions are presented. (Author)