Cesium-131 (t1/2=9.69 d, 100% EC) is the most recent addition to the arsenal in the fight against prostate cancer. It is generated from the EC-decay of 11.5-d 131Ba, which is produced by neutron irradiation of 130Ba target in a nuclear reactor.  For large scale production, knowledge of 131Ba burn-up cross-section is essential.  Due to a short half-life, the burn-up cross-section of 131Ba can only be measured empirically by superimposing theoretical calculations on experimental data. To this end, six sets of targets consisting of mg quantities of ~35% enriched 130Ba target was irradiated at ORNL HFIR at a thermal neutron flux of  1.8x1015 n.s-1.cm-2 (th/epi=31) for 3 to 26 days.  Preliminary data indicates that the burn up cross-section of 131Ba is not significant. These results together with new measurements of the thermal and epithermal cross-sections for the 130Ba[n,?]131Ba reaction and a new half-life for 131Ba will be presented.

Nuclear data for reactor production of barium-131

245th National Meeting (2013)

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