EC sources

["Stephen H. Deitch" <StephenD@compuserve.com>]

With respect to the inquiry concerning the recycling of Tritium and Nickel
63 from EC devices. 

NSSI has recently commissioned equipment for the recovery of Tritium from
EC detector foils and neutron generator targets. The recovered Tritium gas
is absorbed onto a Uranium bed and shipped to Canada for recovery and
reuse. 

There is no recycle value for Nickel 63 that we are aware of. For use in
most applications such as EC detectors, it is less expensive to use new
Ni-63 than to attempt to purify and reuse the recovered nuclide. As high
specific activity material is needed for this application, the recovered
nuclide is of little value due to other metal contaminants and decay.

Contact Steve Deitch or Bob Gallagher
NSSI
Box 34042
Houston, Tx 77234
TEL 713 641-0391 Fax 713 641-653
stephend@compuserve.com
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