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Synthesis of precious metals
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<h2 id="precious-metals-occurring-as-fission-products">Precious metals occurring as fission products</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Ruthenium/uzCm4ufn">Ruthenium</a> and <a href="/facts/Rhodium/xmBd9aFG">rhodium</a> are precious metals produced as a small percentage of the fission products from the <a href="/facts/Nuclear_fission/LfkIylvm">nuclear fission</a> of <a href="/facts/Uranium/n2sGWBzU">uranium</a>. The longest <a href="/facts/Half-life/kGVH8BAB">half-lives</a> of the <a href="/facts/Radioisotope/5WpCfbdq">radioisotopes</a> of these elements generated by nuclear fission are 373.59 days for ruthenium and 45 days for rhodium. This makes the extraction of the non-radioactive isotope from spent nuclear fuel possible after a few years of storage, although the extract must be checked for radioactivity from trace quantities of other elements before use.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p> <h3>Ruthenium</h3> <p class="note">See also: <a href="/facts/Airborne_radioactivity_increase_in_Europe_in_autumn_2017/fVlonmao">Airborne radioactivity increase in Europe in autumn 2017</a></p> <p>Each kilogram of the fission products of 235U will contain 63.44 grams of ruthenium isotopes with halflives longer than a day. Since a typical used nuclear fuel contains about 3% fission products, one ton of used fuel will contain about 1.9 kg of ruthenium. The 103Ru and 106Ru will render the fission ruthenium very radioactive. If the fission occurs in an instant then the ruthenium thus formed will have an activity due to 103Ru of 109 <a href="/facts/Becquerel_(unit)/4C3yrsqp">TBq</a> g−1 and 106Ru of 1.52 TBq g−1. 103Ru has a half-life of about 39 days meaning that within 390 days it will have effectively decayed to the only stable isotope of rhodium, 103Rh, well before any reprocessing is likely to occur. 106Ru has a half-life of about 373 days, meaning that if the fuel is left to cool for 5 years before reprocessing only about 3% of the original quantity will remain; the rest will have decayed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> For comparison, the activity in natural <a href="/facts/Potassium/FWPwS7Rj">potassium</a> (due to naturally occurring <a href="/facts/Potassium-40/RMnkrhvc">40K</a>) is about 30 Bq per gram.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h3>Rhodium</h3> <p>It is possible to extract rhodium from <a href="/facts/Used_nuclear_fuel/jWDWvJ6d">used nuclear fuel</a>: 1 kg of <a href="/facts/Fission_products/xJd9MXXH">fission products</a> of 235U contains 13.3 grams of 103Rh. At 3% fission products by weight, one ton of used fuel will contain about 400 grams of rhodium. The longest lived radioisotope of rhodium is 102mRh with a half-life of 2.9 years, while the ground state (102Rh) has a half-life of 207 days.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p><p>Each kilogram of fission rhodium will contain 6.62 ng of 102Rh and 3.68 ng of 102mRh. As 102Rh decays by <a href="/facts/Beta_decay/vxTBlckp">beta decay</a> to either 102Ru (80%) (some <a href="/facts/Positron_emission/psWp4bJT">positron emission</a> will occur) or 102Pd (20%) (some <a href="/facts/Gamma_ray/5Drf913J">gamma ray</a> photons with about 500 keV are generated) and the excited state decays by beta decay (electron capture) to 102Ru (some <a href="/facts/Gamma_ray/5Drf913J">gamma ray</a> photons with about 1 MeV are generated). If the fission occurs in an instant then 13.3 grams of rhodium will contain 67.1 MBq (1.81 mCi) of 102Rh and 10.8 MBq (291 μCi) of 102mRh. As it is normal to allow used nuclear fuel to stand for about five years before reprocessing, much of this activity will decay away leaving 4.7 MBq of 102Rh and 5.0 MBq of 102mRh. If the rhodium metal was then left for 20 years after fission, the 13.3 grams of rhodium metal would contain 1.3 kBq of 102Rh and 500 kBq of 102mRh. Rhodium has the highest price of these precious metals ($440,000/kg in 2022<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>), but the cost of the separation of the rhodium from the other metals needs to be considered[<i>editorializing</i>], although recent high prices may create opportunity for consideration.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="precious-metals-produced-via-irradiation">Precious metals produced via irradiation</h2> <h3>Gold</h3> <p><a href="/facts/Chrysopoeia/bNAzlDqf">Chrysopoeia</a>, the artificial production of <a href="/facts/Gold/1znknojp">gold</a>, is the traditional goal of <a href="/facts/Alchemy/CEx0U1Em">alchemy</a>. Such transmutation is possible in particle accelerators or nuclear reactors, although the production cost is estimated to be a trillion times the market price of gold. Since there is only one stable gold isotope, 197Au, nuclear reactions must create this isotope in order to produce usable gold.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>Gold was synthesized from <a href="/facts/Mercury_(element)/WlxfoHva">mercury</a> by neutron bombardment in 1941, but the <a href="/facts/Isotopes_of_gold/9a1b4sIe">isotopes of gold</a> produced were all <a href="/facts/Radioactive/Ya6FVjt4">radioactive</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> In 1924, a German scientist, <a href="/facts/Adolf_Miethe/J9egBsNA">Adolf Miethe</a>, reported achieving the same feat, but after various replication attempts around the world, it was deemed an experimental error.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>In 1980, <a href="/facts/Glenn_T._Seaborg/w1a3mume">Glenn Seaborg</a> transmuted several thousand atoms of <a href="/facts/Bismuth/75FLjkoX">bismuth</a> into gold at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. His experimental technique was able to remove protons and neutrons from the bismuth atoms. <a href="/facts/Glenn_T._Seaborg/w1a3mume">Seaborg's technique</a> was far too expensive to enable the routine manufacture of gold but his work is the closest yet to emulating an aspect of the mythical <a href="/facts/Philosopher%27s_stone/QA0SE7VS">Philosopher's stone</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Nuclear_transmutation/MjlvjsV6">Nuclear transmutation</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060419010807/http://www.sns.gov/">Spallation Neutron Source</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/nudat2/reCenter.jsp?z=80&n=117">Mercury 197</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.nndc.bnl.gov/nudat2/decaysearchdirect.jsp?nuc=197HG">Mercury 197 decays to Gold 197</a></li> <li>Kolarik, Zdenek; Renard, Edouard V. (2003). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110609174756/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v47-i2-074-087.pdf">"Recovery of Value Fission Platinoids from Spent Nuclear Fuel. Part I PART I: General Considerations and Basic Chemistry"</a> (PDF). <i>Platinum Metals Review</i>. 47 (2): 74–87. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1595%2F003214003X4727487">10.1595/003214003X4727487</a>. Archived from <a href="http://www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v47-i2-074-087.pdf">the original</a> (PDF) on 2011-06-09.</li> <li>Kolarik, Zdenek; Renard, Edouard V. (2003). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110609213648/http://www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v47-i3-123-131.pdf">"Recovery of Value Fission Platinoids from Spent Nuclear Fuel. Part II: Separation Process"</a> (PDF). <i>Platinum Metals Review</i>. 47 (2): 123–131. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1595%2F003214003X473123131">10.1595/003214003X473123131</a>. Archived from <a href="http://www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v47-i3-123-131.pdf">the original</a> (PDF) on 2011-06-09.</li> <li>Kolarik, Zdenek; Renard, Edouard V. (2005). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1595%2F147106705X35263">"Potential Applications of Fission Platinoids in Industry"</a>. <i>Platinum Metals Review</i>. 49 (2): 79. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1595%2F147106705X35263">10.1595/147106705X35263</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Bush, R. P. (1991). "Recovery of Platinum Group Metals from High Level Radioactive Waste" (PDF). Platinum Metals Review. 35 (4): 202–208. doi:10.1595/003214091X354202208. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144045/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v35-i4-202-208.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144045/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v35-i4-202-208.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Bush, R. P. (1991). "Recovery of Platinum Group Metals from High Level Radioactive Waste" (PDF). Platinum Metals Review. 35 (4): 202–208. doi:10.1595/003214091X354202208. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144045/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v35-i4-202-208.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144045/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v35-i4-202-208.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Bin Samat, S.; Green, S.; Beddoe, A. H. (1997). "The 40K activity of one gram of potassium". Physics in Medicine and Biology. 42 (2): 407–413. Bibcode:1997PMB....42..407S. doi:10.1088/0031-9155/42/2/012. PMID 9044422. S2CID 250778838. <a href="/wiki/Physics_in_Medicine_and_Biology" target="_blank">/wiki/Physics_in_Medicine_and_Biology</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Bush, R. P. (1991). "Recovery of Platinum Group Metals from High Level Radioactive Waste" (PDF). Platinum Metals Review. 35 (4): 202–208. doi:10.1595/003214091X354202208. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144045/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v35-i4-202-208.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144045/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v35-i4-202-208.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Rhodium Spot Prices Per Ounce Today, Live Bullion Price Chart USD". Money Metals Exchange. Retrieved 2022-06-23. <a href="https://www.moneymetals.com/precious-metals-charts/rhodium-price" target="_blank">https://www.moneymetals.com/precious-metals-charts/rhodium-price</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Bush, R. P. (1991). "Recovery of Platinum Group Metals from High Level Radioactive Waste" (PDF). Platinum Metals Review. 35 (4): 202–208. doi:10.1595/003214091X354202208. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144045/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v35-i4-202-208.pdf" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20070927144045/www.platinummetalsreview.com/pdf/pmr-v35-i4-202-208.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Matson, John (January 31, 2014). "Fact or Fiction?: Lead Can Be Turned Into Gold". Scientific American. Retrieved June 21, 2024. <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-lead-can-be-turned-into-gold/" target="_blank">https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-lead-can-be-turned-into-gold/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>R. Sherr; K. T. Bainbridge & H. H. Anderson (1941). "Transmutation of Mercury by Fast Neutrons". Physical Review. 60 (7): 473–479. Bibcode:1941PhRv...60..473S. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.60.473. <a href="/wiki/Physical_Review" target="_blank">/wiki/Physical_Review</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>A.Miethe, "Der Zerfall des Quecksilberatoms", Naturwissenschaften, 12(1924): 597-598 <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"GOLD FROM MERCURY IMPOSSIBLE; New York University Tests Show That Transmutation Method Does Not Work. MIETHE PROCESS USED His Discovery of Gold Traces Laid to Use of Spanish Mercury, Which Contains Gold". The New York Times. October 20, 1925. Retrieved September 9, 2023. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1925/10/20/archives/gold-from-mercury-impossible-new-york-university-tests-show-that.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/1925/10/20/archives/gold-from-mercury-impossible-new-york-university-tests-show-that.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Nelson, Robert A. "Adept Alchemy. Part II. Chapter 7. Transmutations of Mercury". Retrieved September 9, 2023. <a href="http://www.rexresearch.com/adept/aa7hgau.htm" target="_blank">http://www.rexresearch.com/adept/aa7hgau.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Aleklett, K.; Morrissey, D.; Loveland, W.; McGaughey, P.; Seaborg, G. (1981). "Energy dependence of 209Bi fragmentation in relativistic nuclear collisions". Physical Review C. 23 (3): 1044. Bibcode:1981PhRvC..23.1044A. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.23.1044. <a href="/wiki/Physical_Review_C" target="_blank">/wiki/Physical_Review_C</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Matthews, Robert (December 2, 2001). "The Philosopher's Stone". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 22, 2020. <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/4791069/The-Philosophers-Stone.html" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/4791069/The-Philosophers-Stone.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>