Alternative chromatographic processes for no-carrier added Lu-177 radioisotope separation - Part II. The conventional column chromatographic separation combined with HPLC for high purity

摘要

HPLC technique combined with the simple conventional column solid phase extraction (SPE) chromatography using di-(2-ethylhexyl)orthophosphoric acid (HDEHP) impregnated OASIS-HLB sorbent based SPE resins (OASIS-HDEHP) was developed for the separation of no-carrier added (n.c.a) Lu-177 from the bulk quantity of ytterbium target. This combination strategy was based on combining the advantages of the better resolution of HPLC separation of n.c.a Lu-177 from the few milligram level Yb target with the high capacity of the OASIS-HDEHP column for the separation of Lu-177 from the bulk Yb target. The production batches of several hundred mCi activity of n.c.a Lu-177 radioisotope separated from 50 mg Yb target activated in a nuclear reactor of medium neutron flux (Phi = 5 center dot 10(13) n.cm(-2).s(-1)) were successfully performed using this combined separation technique. With the target irradiation in a reactor of higher thermal neutron flux or with the parallel run of several separation units, several Ci-s of n.c.a Lu-177 can be profitably produced on a commercial production basis.