University of South China team extracts high-purity medical alpha nuclide Lead-212 from rare earth slag
On August 20, it was learned from the University of South China that the team led by Professor Wei Yuezhou successfully separated and obtained high-purity alpha nuclide Lead-212 and its precursor nuclide Thorium-228 directly from rare earth slag, achieving the extraction of 158 microcuries of Lead-212/Bismuth-212 from kilogram-level rare earth slag in a single batch. The achievement recently passed the scientific and technological achievement appraisal meeting for the "Technology Development for Extracting Medical Alpha Nuclide Lead-212 and Thorium-228 from Radium Slag from Monazite Processing" organized by the China Isotope and Radiation Association. Experts unanimously agreed that the overall technology has reached internationally advanced level, with single-pass recovery rate reaching internationally leading level, which is expected to promote China's independent supply of medical alpha nuclides and ensure the security of the nuclear medical industry chain, with broad application prospects...
2026-08-21