Studies of gel metal-oxide composite samples as filling materials for W-188/Re-188 generator column

Studies of zirconium tungstate gels for production of 188W/188Re generators using tungsten of natural isotopic abundance irradiated in a moderate flux nuclear reactor have been carried out. Composites of WO3-ZrO2 have been synthesized by Complex Sol-Gel Process developed in INCT and other techniques. Different proportions of metal oxides and temperature were applied. Elution profiles of columns filled with gel samples irradiated in nuclear reactor have been studied using as an eluent 0.9% NaCl solution. Purity of 188Re fraction and efficiency of elution were determined. Ageing effect on elution efficiency was also examined. It was found that the best elution performance showed zirconium tungstate gel prepared in 110 deg C or 500 deg C in which molar ratio of metal oxides was 1:2. (author)