STUDY OF THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF PRODUCING CO-57 FROM NATURAL NICKEL WITH 24 MeV PROTON BEAM
Resumo
Cobalt-57 (Co-57) is a radioactive isotope utilized in diverse fields including nuclear medicine, industrial radiography, and scientific research. The primary method for Co-57 production involves irradiating Iron-56 (Fe-56) with deuterons, or alternatively, proton bombardment on a natural nickel target. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of Co-57 production via irradiating a natural nickel sheet with a 24 MeV proton beam in a cyclotron particle accelerator. Characterization was conducted using gamma ray spectrometry with a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The main characteristic gamma-ray energy associated with Co-57 was observed at 122 KeV. Half-life calculation yielded 6664.87 hours, with a literature reference of 6504 hours, demonstrating less than 6% error. Maximum production under optimal conditions was estimated at 6.94 ± 0.5 MBq.
This summary highlights the successful evaluation of Co-57 production via cyclotron irradiation, emphasizing its potential for medical research applications despite impending operational challenges.