Start Here When Performing Radiochemical Reactions

*Carla Daruich de Souza, Jin Joo Kim and Jin Tae Hong*

### **Abstract**

Radiation products are present in several fields of knowledge. From the energy field, with nuclear reactors and nuclear batteries, to the medical field, with nuclear medicine and radiation therapy (brachytherapy). Although chemistry works in the same way for radioactive and non-radioactive chemicals, an extra layer of problems is present in the radiochemical counter-part. Reactions can be unpredictable due to several factors. For example, iodine-125 in deposited in a silver wire to create the core of a medical radioactive seed. This core is the sealed forming a radioactive seed that are placed inside the cancer. Several aspects can be discussed in regards to radiation chemistry. For example: are there any competing ions? Each way my reaction is going? Each reaction is more likely to occur? Those are important questions, because, in the case of iodine, a volatile product can be formed causing contamination of laboratory, equipment, personal, and environment. This chapter attempts to create a guideline on how to safely proceed when a new radioactive chemical reaction. It discusses the steps by giving practical examples. The focus is in protecting the operator and the environment. The result can be achieved safely and be reliable contribution to science and society.

**Keywords:** Radiation chemistry, radioactive material manipulation, radiation sources fabrication

#### **1. Introduction**

Radiation products are present in several fields of knowledge. From the energy field, with nuclear reactors and nuclear batteries, to the medical field, with nuclear medicine and radiation therapy.

Although chemistry works in the same way for radioactive and non-radioactive chemicals, an extra layer of problems is present in the radiochemical counter-part. Reactions can be unpredictable due to several factors.

According with Neeb, radiation chemistry is a branch of chemistry, but is possible to identify in its context characteristics of an autonomous discipline. Usually, the incredibly high radiation solutions can be manufactured that actually correspond to a low concentration of chemicals. An example is several fission products with extremely high radioactivity with an actual concentration of 10<sup>9</sup> mol/L measured in nuclear spend fuel. With so small masses, is possible that expected reaction simply will not occur and a more "secondary" reaction becomes primary [1, 2].

This chapter attempts to create a guideline on how to safely proceed when a new radioactive chemical reaction is being investigated. It discusses the steps by giving practical examples.
