Synthetic radioisotope: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
imported>Steel1943 m →top: fix common MOS:REFSPACE spacing errors, replaced: /ref> <ref → /ref><ref |
||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Radioisotope that is man-made and is not found in nature}} | {{Short description|Radioisotope that is man-made and is not found in nature}} | ||
{{refimprove|date=July 2017}} | {{refimprove|date=July 2017}} | ||
A '''synthetic radioisotope''' is a [[radionuclide]] that is not found in [[nature]]: no natural process or mechanism exists which produces it, or it is so unstable that it decays away in a very short period of time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Libessart |first=Marion |title=Artificial Radioisotope |url=https://jhrreactor.com/en/faq-items/artificial-radioisotope/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=RJH - Jules Horowitz Reactor |language=en-GB}}</ref> Frédéric Joliot-Curie and Irène Joliot-Curie | A '''synthetic radioisotope''' is a [[radionuclide]] that is not found in [[nature]]: no natural process or mechanism exists which produces it, or it is so unstable that it decays away in a very short period of time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Libessart |first=Marion |title=Artificial Radioisotope |url=https://jhrreactor.com/en/faq-items/artificial-radioisotope/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=RJH - Jules Horowitz Reactor |language=en-GB}}</ref> Most known radioisotopes are synthetically made; only 84 out of over 3,000 radioisotopes are found in nature.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-15 |title=Radioisotopes |url=https://www.iaea.org/topics/nuclear-science/isotopes/radioisotopes |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=www.iaea.org |language=en}}</ref> | ||
The first synthetic radioisotope was [[phosphorus-30]], which was produced in 1934 by Frédéric Joliot-Curie and Irène Joliot-Curie using aluminum foil and a polonium source .<ref>{{Cite web |last=Libessart |first=Marion |title=Artificial Radioisotope |url=https://jhrreactor.com/en/faq-items/artificial-radioisotope/ |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=RJH - Jules Horowitz Reactor |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-22 |title=Artificial radioactivity: a crucial discovery for nuclear medicine made 90 years ago |url=http://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en/news/artificial-radioactivity-crucial-discovery-nuclear-medicine-made-90-years-ago |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=Université Paris-Saclay |language=en}}</ref> The two won the 1935 [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry|Nobel Prize in chemistry]] for their discovery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1935 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1935/summary/ |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=NobelPrize.org |language=en-US}}</ref> The discovery of artificial radioactivity enabled the development of nuclear weapons based on [[plutonium-239]], including the [[Fat Man]] atomic bomb.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Physical, Nuclear, and Chemical Properties of Plutonium - Institute for Energy and Environmental Research |url=https://ieer.org/resource/factsheets/plutonium-factsheet/ |access-date=2025-09-15 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
In the modern day, synthetic radioisotopes have many other applications. They are used in [[medical imaging]] (such as [[technetium-99m]]),<ref>{{Citation |last1=Kane |first1=Steven M. |title=Technetium-99m |date=2025 |work=StatPearls |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559013/ |access-date=2025-09-15 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=32644439 |last2=Padda |first2=Inderbir S. |last3=Patel |first3=Preeti |last4=Davis |first4=Donald D.}}</ref> radiotherapy, nuclear energy sources ([[plutonium-239]]), and ionization-type smoke detectors ([[americium-241]]). These synthetic radioisotopes are manufactured in nuclear reactors using [[neutron irradiation]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Production Methods {{!}} NIDC: National Isotope Development Center |url=https://www.isotopes.gov/production-methods |access-date=2025-09-15 |website=www.isotopes.gov}}</ref> and in [[Particle accelerator|particle accelerators]] using charged particles.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Diamond |first1=W. T. |title=Actinium-225 production with an electron accelerator |date=2021-01-01 |arxiv=2101.00291 |last2=Ross |first2=C. K. |journal=Journal of Applied Physics |volume=129 |issue=10 |article-number=104901 |doi=10.1063/5.0043509 |bibcode=2021JAP...129j4901D }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-15 |title=Radioisotopes |url=https://www.iaea.org/topics/nuclear-science/isotopes/radioisotopes |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=www.iaea.org |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==Production== | ==Production== | ||
Some synthetic radioisotopes are extracted from spent [[nuclear reactor]] fuel rods, which contain various [[fission products]]. For example, it is estimated that up to 1994, about 49,000 [[Becquerel|terabecquerels]] (78 [[tonne|metric ton]]s) of [[technetium]] were produced in nuclear reactors; as such, anthropogenic technetium is far more abundant than technetium from natural radioactivity.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Yoshihara|first1=K|editor1-last=Yoshihara|editor1-first=K|editor2-last=Omori|editor2-first=T|title=Technetium and Rhenium Their Chemistry and Its Applications|date=1996|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-540-59469-7|chapter=Technetium in the environment|series=Topics in Current Chemistry|volume=176|doi=10.1007/3-540-59469-8_2}}</ref> | Some synthetic radioisotopes are extracted from spent [[nuclear reactor]] fuel rods, which contain various [[fission products]]. For example, it is estimated that up to 1994, about 49,000 [[Becquerel|terabecquerels]]{{Clarify|date=June 2025 |reason=Bq and tonne are not equivalent units}} (78 [[tonne|metric ton]]s) of [[technetium]] were produced in nuclear reactors; as such, anthropogenic technetium is far more abundant than technetium from natural radioactivity.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Yoshihara|first1=K|editor1-last=Yoshihara|editor1-first=K|editor2-last=Omori|editor2-first=T|title=Technetium and Rhenium Their Chemistry and Its Applications|date=1996|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-540-59469-7|chapter=Technetium in the environment|series=Topics in Current Chemistry|volume=176|pages=17–35|doi=10.1007/3-540-59469-8_2}}</ref> | ||
Some synthetic isotopes are produced in significant quantities by fission but are not yet being reclaimed. Other isotopes are manufactured by [[neutron]] irradiation of parent isotopes in a nuclear reactor (for example, technetium-97 can be made by neutron irradiation of [[Isotopes of ruthenium|ruthenium-96]]) or by bombarding parent isotopes with high energy particles from a particle accelerator.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radioisotope Production|url=http://www.bnl.gov/medical/Isotope_Distribution/Isodistoff.htm|publisher=Brookhaven National Laboratory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106040156/http://www.bnl.gov/medical/Isotope_Distribution/Isodistoff.htm|archive-date=6 January 2010|date=2009|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Manual for reactor produced radioisotopes.|date=2003|publisher=IAEA|location=Vienna|isbn=92-0-101103-2|url=https://www-pub.iaea.org/books/IAEABooks/6407/Manual-for-Reactor-Produced-Radioisotopes}}</ref> | Some synthetic isotopes are produced in significant quantities by fission but are not yet being reclaimed. Other isotopes are manufactured by [[neutron]] irradiation of parent isotopes in a nuclear reactor (for example, technetium-97 can be made by neutron irradiation of [[Isotopes of ruthenium|ruthenium-96]]) or by bombarding parent isotopes with high energy particles from a particle accelerator.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radioisotope Production|url=http://www.bnl.gov/medical/Isotope_Distribution/Isodistoff.htm|publisher=Brookhaven National Laboratory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106040156/http://www.bnl.gov/medical/Isotope_Distribution/Isodistoff.htm|archive-date=6 January 2010|date=2009|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Manual for reactor produced radioisotopes.|date=2003|pages=1–262 |publisher=IAEA|location=Vienna|isbn=92-0-101103-2|url=https://www-pub.iaea.org/books/IAEABooks/6407/Manual-for-Reactor-Produced-Radioisotopes}}</ref> | ||
Many isotopes, including [[radiopharmaceutical]]s, are produced in [[cyclotron]]s. For example, the synthetic [[fluorine-18]] and [[oxygen-15]] are widely used in [[positron emission tomography]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Cyclotron Produced Radionuclides: Physical Characteristics and Production Methods|date=2009|publisher=IAEA|location=Vienna|isbn=978-92-0-106908-5|url=https://www-pub.iaea.org/books/iaeabooks/7892/Cyclotron-Produced-Radionuclides-Physical-Characteristics-and-Production-Methods}}</ref> | Many isotopes, including [[radiopharmaceutical]]s, are produced in [[cyclotron]]s. For example, the synthetic [[fluorine-18]] and [[oxygen-15]] are widely used in [[positron emission tomography]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Cyclotron Produced Radionuclides: Physical Characteristics and Production Methods|date=2009|pages=1–266 |publisher=IAEA|location=Vienna|isbn=978-92-0-106908-5|url=https://www-pub.iaea.org/books/iaeabooks/7892/Cyclotron-Produced-Radionuclides-Physical-Characteristics-and-Production-Methods}}</ref> | ||
==Uses== | ==Uses== | ||
| Line 26: | Line 30: | ||
===Industrial radiation sources=== | ===Industrial radiation sources=== | ||
{{Expand section|date=July 2017}} | {{Expand section|date=July 2017}} | ||
[[Alpha particle]], [[beta particle]], and [[gamma ray]] radioactive emissions are industrially useful. Most sources of these are synthetic radioisotopes. Areas of use include the [[Uses of radioactivity in oil and gas wells|petroleum industry]], [[industrial radiography]], [[homeland security]], [[process control]], [[food irradiation]] and underground detection.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greenblatt|first1=Jack A.|title=Stable and Radioactive Isotopes: Industry & Trade Summary|url=https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/ITS-1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/ITS-1.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|website=Office of Industries|publisher=United States International Trade Commission|date=2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Rivard|first1=Mark J.|last2=Bobek|first2=Leo M.|last3=Butler|first3=Ralph A.|last4=Garland|first4=Marc A.|last5=Hill|first5=David J.|last6=Krieger|first6=Jeanne K.|last7=Muckerheide|first7=James B.|last8=Patton|first8=Brad D.|last9=Silberstein|first9=Edward B.|title=The US national isotope program: Current status and strategy for future success|journal=Applied Radiation and Isotopes|date=August 2005|volume=63|issue=2|pages=157–178|doi=10.1016/j.apradiso.2005.03.004|url=https://www.isotopes.gov/outreach/reports/Rivard.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.isotopes.gov/outreach/reports/Rivard.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Branch|first1=Doug|title=Radioactive Isotopes in Process Measurement|url=https://www.controlglobal.com/assets/12WPpdf/121105-vega-isotopes-measurement.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.controlglobal.com/assets/12WPpdf/121105-vega-isotopes-measurement.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|publisher=VEGA Controls|access-date=4 March 2018|date=2012}}</ref> | [[Alpha particle]], [[beta particle]], and [[gamma ray]] radioactive emissions are industrially useful. Most sources of these are synthetic radioisotopes. Areas of use include the [[Uses of radioactivity in oil and gas wells|petroleum industry]], [[industrial radiography]], [[homeland security]], [[process control]], [[food irradiation]] and underground detection.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Greenblatt|first1=Jack A.|title=Stable and Radioactive Isotopes: Industry & Trade Summary|url=https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/ITS-1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/ITS-1.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|website=Office of Industries|publisher=United States International Trade Commission|date=2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Rivard|first1=Mark J.|last2=Bobek|first2=Leo M.|last3=Butler|first3=Ralph A.|last4=Garland|first4=Marc A.|last5=Hill|first5=David J.|last6=Krieger|first6=Jeanne K.|last7=Muckerheide|first7=James B.|last8=Patton|first8=Brad D.|last9=Silberstein|first9=Edward B.|title=The US national isotope program: Current status and strategy for future success|journal=Applied Radiation and Isotopes|date=August 2005|volume=63|issue=2|pages=157–178|doi=10.1016/j.apradiso.2005.03.004|pmid=15935681 |bibcode=2005AppRI..63..157R |url=https://www.isotopes.gov/outreach/reports/Rivard.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.isotopes.gov/outreach/reports/Rivard.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Branch|first1=Doug|title=Radioactive Isotopes in Process Measurement|url=https://www.controlglobal.com/assets/12WPpdf/121105-vega-isotopes-measurement.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.controlglobal.com/assets/12WPpdf/121105-vega-isotopes-measurement.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|publisher=VEGA Controls|access-date=4 March 2018|date=2012}}</ref> | ||
==Footnotes== | ==Footnotes== | ||
Latest revision as of 00:50, 9 October 2025
Template:Short description Template:Refimprove A synthetic radioisotope is a radionuclide that is not found in nature: no natural process or mechanism exists which produces it, or it is so unstable that it decays away in a very short period of time.[1] Most known radioisotopes are synthetically made; only 84 out of over 3,000 radioisotopes are found in nature.[2]
The first synthetic radioisotope was phosphorus-30, which was produced in 1934 by Frédéric Joliot-Curie and Irène Joliot-Curie using aluminum foil and a polonium source .[3][4] The two won the 1935 Nobel Prize in chemistry for their discovery.[5] The discovery of artificial radioactivity enabled the development of nuclear weapons based on plutonium-239, including the Fat Man atomic bomb.[6]
In the modern day, synthetic radioisotopes have many other applications. They are used in medical imaging (such as technetium-99m),[7] radiotherapy, nuclear energy sources (plutonium-239), and ionization-type smoke detectors (americium-241). These synthetic radioisotopes are manufactured in nuclear reactors using neutron irradiation,[8] and in particle accelerators using charged particles.[9][10]
Production
Some synthetic radioisotopes are extracted from spent nuclear reactor fuel rods, which contain various fission products. For example, it is estimated that up to 1994, about 49,000 terabecquerelsTemplate:Clarify (78 metric tons) of technetium were produced in nuclear reactors; as such, anthropogenic technetium is far more abundant than technetium from natural radioactivity.[11]
Some synthetic isotopes are produced in significant quantities by fission but are not yet being reclaimed. Other isotopes are manufactured by neutron irradiation of parent isotopes in a nuclear reactor (for example, technetium-97 can be made by neutron irradiation of ruthenium-96) or by bombarding parent isotopes with high energy particles from a particle accelerator.[12][13]
Many isotopes, including radiopharmaceuticals, are produced in cyclotrons. For example, the synthetic fluorine-18 and oxygen-15 are widely used in positron emission tomography.[14]
Uses
Most synthetic radioisotopes have a short half-life. Though a health hazard, radioactive materials have many medical and industrial uses.
Nuclear medicine
The field of nuclear medicine covers use of radioisotopes for diagnosis or treatment.
Diagnosis
Radioactive tracer compounds, radiopharmaceuticals, are used to observe the function of various organs and body systems. These compounds use a chemical tracer which is attracted to or concentrated by the activity which is being studied. That chemical tracer incorporates a short lived radioactive isotope, usually one which emits a gamma ray which is energetic enough to travel through the body and be captured outside by a gamma camera to map the concentrations. Gamma cameras and other similar detectors are highly efficient, and the tracer compounds are generally very effective at concentrating at the areas of interest, so the total amounts of radioactive material needed are very small.
The metastable nuclear isomer technetium-99m is a gamma-ray emitter widely used for medical diagnostics because it has a short half-life of 6 hours, but can be easily made in the hospital using a technetium-99m generator. Weekly global demand for the parent isotope molybdenum-99 was Template:Convert in 2010, overwhelmingly provided by fission of uranium-235.[15]
Treatment
Several radioisotopes and compounds are used for medical treatment, usually by bringing the radioactive isotope to a high concentration in the body near a particular organ. For example, iodine-131 is used for treating some disorders and tumors of the thyroid gland.
Industrial radiation sources
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Alpha particle, beta particle, and gamma ray radioactive emissions are industrially useful. Most sources of these are synthetic radioisotopes. Areas of use include the petroleum industry, industrial radiography, homeland security, process control, food irradiation and underground detection.[16][17][18]
Footnotes
External links
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".