RAPID SEPARATION OF IN-110 FROM ENRICHED CD TARGETS BY THERMAL-DIFFUSION

In-110 (T-1/2 = 69 min, 62% beta +) is a short-lived positron emitting indium isotope that can be produced in high radioactivity amounts by a low-energy accelerator and from an enriched Cd-110-target. We presen t a simple, non-destructive and rapid method to separate radioactive i ndium isotopes from cadmium targets with the special aim to produce In -110. The irradiated target foils were heated up to 306 degrees C, tha t is close to the melting point of cadmium. At this temperature the in dium isotopes were diffusing out to the surface of the foils. After th e end of the heating a high concentration of indium radioactivity was found at the surface of the target. By dipping the foils into a weak a cid more than 60% of the radioactivity was etched off the target with less than 2% loss of the target material.