Application of hollow fibre membrane contactor for ultra purification of 90Sr nitrate solution at bulk scale for 90Sr–90Y generator for societal use.

90Y, a beta emitting radionuclide (T1/2 ~ 64 h, Emax= 2.3 MeV), the daughter product of 90Sr is used for radio therapeutic applications. Non dispersive solvent extraction in hollow fibre membrane contactor (HFMC) with CMPO solvent studies were done to achieve the desired purification of 90Sr nitrate solution with respect to gross alpha activity. This purified solution is promising feed for 90Sr–90Y generator to achieve the clinical grade product of 90Y. In HFMC recirculations, around 99.97% alpha impurities were extracted in two recirculations from the feed solution with 0.2 M CMPO while only two recirculations were required with 0.4 M CMPO. A simplified mathematical model has also been developed to model the extraction of alpha impurities through the HFMC using CMPO as a solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]