Americium Production

Americium-241 isotope may be produced via following reaction:

239Pu(n, γ)240Pu(n, γ)241Pu

β- -> 13.24 h

241Am

It may be recovered also from nuclear wastes after storage for several years (in USA 4 kg are retrieved each year). Americium-243 may be obtained in following way:

241Am(n, γ)242Am

Electron capture ->

242Pu(n, γ)243Pu

β- -> 4.984 h

243Am

Americium is extracted via electron exchange using NH₄CNS or concentrated hydrochloride acid as eluents. It may be also obtained by extraction with tributyl phosphate, tertiary amine etc.

Americium metal is produced reducing by americium fluorides or dioxide: reduction AmF₄ by calcium at 1500-1600°C in bomb or MgO crucible. AmF₃ is reduces in tantalum crucible in high vacuum at 1100-1200°C, and AmO₂ is processed by lanthanum at 1500°C or by thorium at 1550°C.