Methods of use and manufacture of silver-doped, nano-porous hydroxyapatite

Abstract

A silver-doped, nano-porous hydroxyapatite material is provided that can be utilized to capture radioactive iodine, 129I. Methods of using the silver-doped, nano-porous hydroxyapatite material to remove radioactive iodine, and methods of manufacturing the material are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A material for capturing a radioactive product, comprising a plurality of silver-doped microparticles. 
     
     
         2 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the silver content is in the range of about 0.50 to 5.00 wt % of the microparticles. 
     
     
         3 . The material of  claim 2 , wherein the silver content is in the range of about 1.60 to 1.75 wt % of the microparticles. 
     
     
         4 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microparticles comprise microspheres. 
     
     
         5 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microparticles are in the range of about 20-800 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microparticles comprise hydroxyapatite. 
     
     
         7 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the microparticles include nanopores. 
     
     
         8 . The material of  claim 1 , wherein the radioactive product comprises a volatile radionuclide. 
     
     
         9 . The material of  claim 8 , wherein the volatile radionuclide comprises iodine. 
     
     
         10 . The material of  claim 9 , wherein the iodine is  129 I. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing the material of  claim 1 , comprising:
 preparing silver-doped hydroxyapatite from silver-sodium-calcium borate glass in a phosphate solution;   melting the glass;   quenching the glass in air;   crushing the glass to a powder;   passing the powder through high heat to form glass microparticles; and   immersing the glass microparticles in a solution of K 2 HPO 4  for a duration of time.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glass is melted at a temperature in the range of about 700 to 1200° C. for a duration of time ranging from about 30 minutes to 120 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the glass is melted at about 1000° C. for about 1 hour. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the powder comprises microparticles having a diameter in the range of about 20-800 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the application of heat to the powder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the powder is passed through a flame. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glass microparticles are immersed in the K 2 HPO 4  solution for about 2 to 6 days at room temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of continuously stirring the solution for about 24 hours. 
     
     
         19 . A method of immobilizing a radioactive product with silver-doped, nano-porous hydroxyapatite material, comprising:
 providing a silver-doped, nano-porous hydroxyapatite material;   capturing the radioactive product within the silver-doped, nano-porous hydroxyapatite material; and   cold sintering the silver-doped, nano-porous hydroxyapatite material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the silver-doped, nano-porous hydroxyapatite material comprises microparticles or microspheres. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the silver content of the material is in the range of about 1.25 to 2.00 wt % of the microparticles. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the radioactive product comprises  129 I. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the radioactive product is captured in vapor form. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the radioactive product is captured in solution. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further including the step of adding borosilicate or iron phosphate glass powders.