Patent ID: 6179981
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: C25C,G21F

Abstract:
A process for separating technetium-99 from a nitric solution comprising the steps of:(a) removing nitrates from the solution by contacting the solution with a compound in the presence of a catalyst, said compound being selected from the group consisting of formic acid, formaldehyde, oxalic acid, methanol, ethanol, sugar and organic compounds containing one or more groups selected from the group consisting of --OH, --COH and --COOH to obtain a denetrified solution of technetium-99 containing little or no nitrates;(b) adjusting the pH of the denitrified solution resulting from step (a) to approximately 5.5 to 7.5; and(c) subjecting the solution resulting from step (b) to electrolysis in an electrolytic cell to thereby separate the technetium-99 by cathodic electrodeposition.