Experimental evaluation of 47Sc production by neutron irradiation of metallic titanium at the IEA-R1 research reactor

Sc-47 is a radionuclide with favorable nuclear properties for radiopharmaceutical applications in diagnosis and therapy. This work experimentally investigates the feasibility of producing 47 Sc via neutron irradiation of natural metallic titanium at the IEA-R1 research reactor. Radionuclide production was quantified by high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry. Specific activities of up to 6.6 MBq g⁻ 1 were obtained, with 47 Sc representing about 65% of total activity after two days of decay. The results demonstrate that reactor-based 47 Sc production from natural titanium is feasible and provide experimental benchmarks for developing cost-effective production routes.