NIDC News

World Astatine Community
Radiopharmaceutical experts and researchers to gather June 19-20 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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The DOE IP is currently seeking domestic researchers to evaluate Sb-119 samples from an upcoming test batch planed for Summer 2025.
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These meetings offer an excellent opportunity for companies and institutions to discuss isotope-related matters firsthand with the federal DOE IP director, federal DOE program managers, and the NIDC staff.

DOE Isotope Program Highlights

Image courtesy of Jacquelyn DeMink (art) and Thomas Dyke (photography), Oak Ridge National Laboratory Conceptual art showing the rare earth element promethium in a vial surrounded by an organic ligand.

Promethium Chemistry Breakthrough Could Unlock New Applications

Recently, Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory were able to study the electronic structure of a promethium complex, providing new information about promethium’s chemical and physical properties.
Illustration of an idealized extraction chromatographic resin using DGA or LN extractants. By studying the adsorption properties of terbium on these DGA and LN resins, scientists gain insights into these properties for the entire lanthanide series. Image courtesy of Connor Holiski

Understanding the Adsorption Properties of Terbium for Future Medical Use

In this study, supported by the Department of Energy Isotope Program, managed by the Department of Energy Office of Science for Isotope R&D and Production, researchers explored how terbium binds to these resins as a function of temperature.
Concept of the automated system for remote dissolution of the irradiated bismuth target and astatine recovery in nitric acid media. Conceptual design by Evgeny Tereshatov, Texas A&M University Graphic Design by Nathan Clark, Office of Science, Communications and Public Affairs

Automated Nuclear Chemistry Boosts Astatine Production for Cancer Therapy

A team of researchers designed and tested an automated protocol aimed at reducing the At-211 processing procedure from dissolution of the irradiated target through column purification in just 20 minutes.
Image courtesy of Mike Zach, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This electron microscope image shows spherical bismuth powder. Each particle in the photo is about the diameter of a human hair (approximately 60 micrometers).

Spherical Powders Enable New Applications for Metals

Free-flowing metal powders offer improvements for additive manufacturing, isotope production target fabrication, and more.