Sequential separation of carrier free 52,56Mn, 55,56,58Co and 56,57Ni from α-particle activated iron with triisooctylamine

A radiochemical charged particle activation procedure for production and separation of carrier free 52,56Mn, 55,56,58Co and 56,57Ni has been developed. The radioisotopes produced on bombardment of an iron foil target with a 40 MeV α-particle beam through the nuclear reactions, Fe(α, αpxn)52,56Mn, Fe(α, pxn)55,56,58Co and Fe(α, xn)56,57Ni, have been sequentially separated by HCl medium target element and the activation products have been sequentially separated from an HCl medium using diethylether and the liquid anion exchanger, TIOA, as extractants. Extent of separation and purity of the carrier free radiotracers at different stages of their LLX separation have been verified by taking recourse to γ-ray spectrometry.