Preparation and characterization of poly nano-cerium chloride for 99Mo production based on neutron activation reactions

Different molar ratios of the cerium trichloride heptahydrate to isopropyl alcohol (1:2, 1:3 and 1:5) were studied to choose the optimum ratio, and studied the reaction temperature effect (80, 90 and 100 °C) to determine the optimum temperature for the preparation of poly nano cerium chloride (PNCC). The PNCC-1 was selected among the prepared PNCC batches based on the ⁹⁹Mo sorption properties that confirms the feasibility of using it as a novel effective sorbent material. The structural properties and chemical composition were studied using different techniques and devices such as EDX, XRD, FESEM, FTIR, TGA, and DTA. The sorption capacity was found to be 450 ± 27 and 195 ± 11 mg/g PNCC-1 using the static and dynamic techniques, from 0.01 M NaOH to obtain about 55 and 75% ^99mTc separation efficiency, respectively. The acceptability of the eluate ^99mTc was investigated from the point of view of radiochemical, radionuclidic and chemical purity.