Novel Sr-90-Y-90 generator system based on a pertraction through supported liquid membrane in hollow fiber contactor

Abstract

Separation of yttrium(III) from strontium(II) with 15% (v/v) di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA) in dodecane was carried out in a hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (SLM) extraction system operated under closed-loop recirculation of the donor and acceptor phase. The donor phase was a mixture of 5.7 mmol dm(-3) of Sr(II) and 0.23 mmol dm(-3) of Y(III) in 0.1 mol dm(-3) HCl, the acceptor solution was 3 mol dm(-3) HCl, and the donor to acceptor phase volume ratio was 6.2. At the donor flow rate of 4.7 cm(3) min(-1) and the acceptor flow rate of 0.8 cm(3) min(-1), the yield of Y(III) in the acceptor phase (in the form suitable for radiopharmaceutical preparation) reached 60% after 360 min with a molar ratio of Y(III) to Sr(II) in the acceptor of 250:1, as compared to 1:25 in the donor phase. The yield of Y(III) was 72% at the acceptor flow rate to 1.9 cm3 min(-1), but a breakthrough of Sr(II) through liquid membrane increased from 0.02 to 0.2%. (C) 2015 The Institution a Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.