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Biswal J, Sen N, Joseph A, Sharma VK, Singh KK, Shenoy KT, Pant HJ. A microfluidic route for synthesis of scandium oxide microspheres, their characterization and neutron activation. Appl Radiat Isot 2024; 207:111245. [PMID: 38430827 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Radioactive scandium-46 microspheres have applications in mapping flow in a chemical reactor through a technique known as radioactive particle tracking (RPT). In the present study a novel microfluidic method has been developed for synthesis of controlled size scandium oxide microspheres. An inline/in-situ mixing of the scandium precursor and gelling agents was implemented which makes the microfluidic platform amenable for truly continuous operation. Microspheres of size varying from 937 to 666 μm were produced by varying O/A ratio from 10 to 30. Perfectly spherical and monodispersed (PDI <10 %) microspheres were obtained at O/A 15 and beyond. The morphology, elemental composition, and structure of the microspheres were analysed by SEM, EDS and XRD, respectively. Subsequently the microspheres were irradiated with thermal neutrons in a nuclear reactor to obtain radioactive Sc-46 oxide microspheres. The activity produced on each Sc-46 microspheres with different sizes was in the range 19.5-34.0 MBq.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayashree Biswal
- Isotope and Radiation Application Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Nirvik Sen
- Chemical Engineering Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - Annie Joseph
- Process Development Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - V K Sharma
- Isotope and Radiation Application Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - K K Singh
- Chemical Engineering Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - K T Shenoy
- Chemical Engineering Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India
| | - H J Pant
- Isotope and Radiation Application Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India.
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