An Identification Problem

["Michael P. Grissom" <MIKEG%SLACVM.bitnet@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu>]

1.  The isotopes mentioned are usually seen on the fill media inside
the glass column which is "charged" by the manufacturer by pouring
solutions of Mo-99 into it.

2.  I would caution that the column may have been broken during
disassembly of the generator (could be a larger problem), or indeed
the fill material may have been splashed on the plastic/lead
components that compose the body of the generator (again, could lead
to a larger problem if not "fixed" contamination) at the manufacturer.
Might want to swipe the area for longer lived radionuclides (besides
Tc-99 of course!).  Since these other radionuclides do not eluate in
the saline solutions used, they normally would be associated with
resin beads or be relatively well bound on surfaces [not likely to
have a difficult loose surface contamination problem].

2.  I have some old horror stories about the days when we used "Master
Milkers", i.e., 3+ Ci reloadable generators to which another person
(now often logged on RADSAFE by the way) would add the Mo-99 solution
provided by the vendor.  This led to some very user unfriendly
situations!
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The opions expressed above are those of the author alone and do not
not represent those of the Stanford University or the US Department
of Energy.
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