Effect of ²²⁶Ra purity as a target for ²²⁵Ac production using a fast reactor

Researchers are seeking alternative ²²⁵Ac production methods because of the scarcity of ²²⁵Ac for targeted alpha therapy. Although ²²⁶Ra from waste sources has been considered, obtaining ²²⁶Ra is challenging. Therefore, the authors focused on the contamination of minerals with ²³²Th-derived ²²⁸Ra while investigating methods to recover ²²⁶Ra from uranium ores. The effect of ²²⁸Ra contamination on ²²⁵Ac production by ²²⁶Ra transmutation using fast reactors was evaluated. Consequently, toxic ²²⁸Ac contaminates ²²⁵Ac. However, using the different half-lives of ²²⁵Ac and ²²⁸Ac, pure ²²⁵Ac can be obtained from the chemical separation of actinium after cooling for 5–8 days.