Novel method to produce 109Cd via proton irradiation of electroplated silver on a gold-coated copper backing

Abstract

Abstract Silver electrodeposition on gold layer was carried out by the alkaline plating baths to produce cadmium-109 via natAg(p, n)109Cd nuclear reaction. Gold was electrodeposited on copper backing in the beginning; the bath content consisted of 17.7 gl−1 KCN, 6.6 gl−1 Au, 6.6 gl−1 K2CO3 and 3.3 gl−1 Na2CO3 while acidity and temperature of the bath adjusted at 10 and 45°C respectively. A DC current density of ca 2.08 mA · cm−2 was used to electroplate gold. A gold layer of 63 μm thickness with suitable morphology was obtained after the electrodeposition. Silver was electrodeposited on the gold layer with 100% efficiency using a cyanide bath. The silver target was irradiated with 15 MeV proton beam and current of 150 μA; the 109Cd production yield was 2.0 μCi/μA · h (0.074 MBq/μA · h). The target material was dissolved by 14 M HNO3. Cadmium-109 in the dissolved target solution was separated from silver by evaporation process. Cadmium recovered with more than 88% efficiency involved non-detected silver impurity.