Synthesis And Structural Investigations Of Gel Metal Oxide Composites Wo3-Zro2, Wo3-Tio2, Wo3-Zro2-Sio2, And Their Evaluation As Materials For The Preparation Of W-188/Re-188 Generator

The gel composites of WO3-ZrO2, WO3-TiO2, WO3-ZrO2-SiO2 at different molar ratios of oxides were synthesized. The elution profiles of the generator columns packed with gel samples activated at the Polish nuclear research reactor MARIA were studied. The best results of elution were found for WO3-ZrO2 and WO3-TiO2 both at 1:2 M ratio annealed at 500 degrees C and 650 degrees C, respectively. Their structure determined with X-ray and neutron diffraction is completely amorphous with spherical grains of similar to 23 nm diameter. The efficiency of W-188/Re-188 generators with WO3-ZrO2 gel of natural isotope composition as well as enriched in W-186 were investigated. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.