Californium-252 Production and Neutron Source Fabrication

Experimental and theoretical studies on the extraction behavior of Cf(iii) by NTAamide(C8) ligand and the separation of Cf(iii)/Cm(iii)

“…Since the difference in specific radioactivity between the two is 10 5 , it is believed that a small amount of 248 Cm in the liquid phase will not affect the 252 Cf to be measured in the experiment. 5,7,38–40…”

“…the HFIR at Oak Ridge National Laboratory), and its purification process involves the separation of californium from other actinides and impurities. 6–9 252 Cf is the main product of Cf production by this method, and its alpha decay half-life is 2.645 years, so the chemical purity of 252 Cf will also be affected by its decay product 248 Cm. 10,11 Therefore, it is of great practical significance to conduct basic chemical experiments on californium for further research and to obtain data with practical value.…”

“…Nevertheless, due to their similar chemical properties and ionic radii, californium is difficult to be separated from other trivalent transplutonium elements, as well as the lanthanides. 4,5,7,12 A number of procedures and extractants have been developed to achieve the purification of californium. For example, α-hydroxyammonium isobutyrate (α-HIBA) was first used 30 years ago and is still used by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to separate californium from other actinides.…”

“…For example, α-hydroxyammonium isobutyrate (α-HIBA) was first used 30 years ago and is still used by Oak Ridge National Laboratory to separate californium from other actinides. 7,13–15 At the end of the last century, acetylacetone, TOPO, HDEHP, DHDECMP and other reagents have been studied and their ability to extract transplutonium have been evaluated, respectively. 16–20 Most extraction processes can be considered to be able to separate californium from americium/curium or the lighter actinides, but in fact they still have limitations in practical applications.…”

Digital signal processing for neutron-gamma discrimination using a liquid scintillator detector

“…The detector operated at a negative voltage of 1750 V and a 20 μCi 252 Cf source was placed at a distance of 20 cm in front of the detector. 252 Cf is a neutron-rich isotope that decays either by alpha particle emission or by spontaneous fission with a branching ratio of 96.9% and 3.1%, respectively [19]. The other source of neutron and gamma rays provided for measurement is the neutron generator.…”