Patent Number: 056339003
Section: claims

1. A method of producing radioactive .sup.125 I, which comprises: providing a moveable elongate enclosure having therein a lower irradiation chamber and an upper decay chamber connected in fluid flow relationship and in fixed position relationship with the lower irradiation chamber,  feeding .sup.124 Xe from a source thereof exterior to said elongate enclosure to said irradiation chamber,  positioning said moveable elongate enclosure adjacent to a light water nuclear reactor core submerged in a pool for irradiating said .sup.124 Xe in said irradiating chamber with neutrons to cause the formation of .sup.125 Xe therefrom,  transferring irradiated gas by pumping from said irradiation chamber to said decay chamber free from neutron flux, and  transferring said moveable elongate enclosure to a submerged location in said pool remote from said remote core and free from neutron flux for permitting .sup.125 Xe to decay to form .sup.125 I in said decay chamber.  connecting said source of .sup.124 Xe to a feed inlet in selectable fluid flow communication wish said irradiation chamber and with a first condensation chamber in said enclosure and flowing said .sup.124 Xe through said feed inlet,  condensing the feed .sup.124 Xe in said first condensation chamber and closing said feed inlet, and  evaporating the liquid .sup.124 Xe from the first condensation chamber to said irradiation chamber.  condensing irradiated gas flowing between said irradiation chamber and said decay chamber in a second condensation chamber in said enclosure in fluid flow communication with said decay chamber,  terminating fluid flow communication between said irradiation chamber and said decay chamber, and  evaporating condensed irradiated gas from said second condensation chamber into said decay chamber.  condensing residual gas flowing between said decay chamber and said irradiation chamber in said first condensation chamber in said enclosure,  terminating fluid flow communication between said irradiation chamber and said decay chamber, and  evaporating condensed gas from said first condensation chamber into said irradiation chamber, and  said steps of irradiating, transfer of irradiated gas and permitting decay are repeated. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said feeding of .sup.124 Xe to said irradiation zone is effected by: 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said irradiated gas transfer is effected by 4. The method of claim 3 wherein, following decaying of irradiated gas, the residual gas is transferred to said irradiation chamber by: 5. The method of claim 1 wherein, following formation of .sup.125 I, said decay chamber is removed from said enclosure for the recovery of .sup.125 I therefrom. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said .sup.125 I is recovered from said decay chamber by introducing an aqueous solvent for .sup.125 I to the decay chamber, affecting a reflux of said aqueous solvent within said decay chamber to remove solid .sup.125 I from internal surfaces of said decay chamber and to form an aqueous solution of the iodine solution, and removing said aqueous solution from said decay chamber. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said aqueous solvent is an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.