Large scale production of 51Cr for medical application in a medium flux research reactor: A comparative investigation of Szilard–Chalmers process and direct (n,γ) route

•A systematic evaluation on the reactor production of 51Cr.•Assessment of comparative advantages and disadvantages of production routes.•An optimized (n,γ)51Cr production scheme is the positive outcome.

The present article reports a systematic assessment on the reactor production of 51Cr using the Szilard–Chalmers process as well as 50Cr(n,γ)51Cr routes. In an attempt to select the most convenient path to undertake large-scale production of 51Cr, the effectiveness of both the production routes on the basis of target selection, irradiated target processing, yield and specific activity of 51Cr, was evaluated. An optimized 50Cr(n,γ)51Cr production scheme offering 51Cr of requisite purity is the positive outcome.