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Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
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Researchers report fastest purification of astatine-211 needed for targeted cancer therapy
Astatine-211 recovery from bismuth metal using a chromatography system. Unlike bismuth, astatine-211 forms chemical bonds with ketones.
In a recent study, Texas A&M University researchers have described a new process to purify astatine-211, a promising radioactive isotope for targeted cancer treatment. Unlike other elaborate purification methods, their technique can extract astatine-211 from bismuth in minutes rather than hours, which can greatly reduce the time between production and delivery to the patient.
“Astatine-211 is currently under evaluation as a cancer therapeutic in clinical trials. But the problem is that the supply chain for this element is very limited because only a few places worldwide can make it,” said Jonathan Burns, research scientist in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Nuclear Engineering and Science Center. “Texas A&M University is one of a handful of places in the world that can make astatine-211, and we have delineated a rapid astatine-211 separation process that increases the usable quantity of this isotope for research and therapeutic purposes.”
The researchers added that this separation method will bring Texas A&M one step closer to being able to provide astatine-211 for distribution through the Department of Energy’s Isotope Program’s National Isotope Development Center as part of the University Isotope Network.
Details on the chemical reaction to purify astatine-211 are in the journal Separation and Purification Technology.
D. W. Johnson, A. E. Costley
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 53 | Number 2 | February 2008 | Pages 751-759
Technical Paper | Plasma Diagnostics for Magnetic Fusion Research | dx.doi.org/10.13182/FST08-A1685
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The physics basis for almost all the diagnostics planned for ITER is reasonably well in hand. However, the radiation environment near the ITER plasma creates unique challenges for diagnostic engineering. To illustrate this, we take a virtual tour of the ITER complex, beginning in the control room and diagnostic hall, where familiar components are configured much as they are in existing facilities. As we move more closely to the plasma, however, crossing into different zones for access and hazard confinement, the nuclear and plasma edge environment drives diagnostic designs in new directions, with new uncertainties. In each region, anticipated advances in supporting technology will be described, and new strategies for diagnostic implementation will be explained. The need for new standards of reliability will be highlighted, due to the difficulty of robotic maintenance and repair.