272 



NEODYMIUM 



Intake Levels. Xeodymiiim is a rare-earth element and is not of bio- 

 logical interest. Xd^" is produced in relatively small yields by the fission 

 process and tends to deposit in the skeleton. 



Radioassay. The Pm*''^ will usually present no particular counting 

 problem, because the growth is relatively slow and the contribution will 

 be minimized by gamma or hard-beta counting. 



Chemistry. Neodymium is similar in chemical behavior to lanthanum 

 and praseodymium. Various separation procedures have been described 

 in reference (Nd-1). Presumably, conventional wet- or dry-ashing 

 methods would cause no losses. 



Nd-1. Coryell, Charles D., and Nathan Sugarman: "Radiochemical Studies: The 

 Fission Products," Books 1-3, National Nuclear Energy Series, McGraw-Hill 

 Book Company, Inc., New York, 1951. 



