Selective electroreduction of europium in the production of gadolinium-153

An ongoing 153Gd production process from neutron-irradiated natural Eu2O3 was significantly improved by introduction of an electroreduction step. Zinc electrodes were used to reduce Eu(III) in a dilute sulfuric acid solution. The bulk of europium was removed during electrolysis in the form of an insoluble EuSO4 precipitate. The overall capacity of the 153Gd production process was increased by a factor of four, and the yield of the isotope was boosted by more than 70%. (orig.)