Reverse osmosis membrane based separation of solute containing Sr radioisotopes from bulk acidic solution

Application of membrane based separation techniques are on increasing demand due to their inherent advantages of continuous operation capability, durability and ease of operation. Reverse osmosis based potable water purification system has become indispensable part of our daily life. ⁸⁹Sr radioisotopes, is produced by ⁸⁹Y(n,p)⁸⁹Sr reaction at fast flux reactor, FBTR for its application as a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical. During the chemical processing of irradiated yttria pellets, batch wise dissolution using 9M HNO₃, solvent extraction using 0.1M DtBuCH₁₈C₆/Octanol performed at hotcell due high radiation dose associated with the irradiated pellets. Remaining processes like back extraction and quality control processes gets completed in the laboratory. Pertraction of ⁸⁹Sr from FBTR irradiated yttria has been demonstrated in our laboratory using supported liquid membrane technique. In this study, we are investigating the separation of bulk acidic solvent from Sr containing solute using reverse osmosis technique which is originated post back extraction stage. A 10,000 mL simulated sample solution was prepared with ⁸⁵⁺⁸⁹Sr radiotracer solution in 0.1M HNO₃. Sr content in the permeate chamber was less than the minimum detectable activity (6nCi/L). Large variation associated with the Sr recovery may be due to error associated with final volumes of permeate and concentrate chambers. A fast method is standardised for the separation of bulk solvent from trace solute Sr, which can be utilised for the continuous production of ⁸⁹SrCl₂ radiopharmaceutical using bulk scale irradiation of yttria target