Production and separation of Tc-99m from cyclotron irradiated Mo-100atural targets: a new automated module for separation of Tc-99m from molybdenum targets

摘要

The direct production of Tc-99m through (p, 2n) reaction on natural molybdenum target and enriched Mo-100 target was investigated. Separation of technetium radionuclide from the irradiated Mo-100 target by a new method using Dowex-1 ion exchange resin as well as by the standard solvent extraction (methyl ethyl ketone) method was studied. An automated computer controlled module was developed based on the Dowex-1 separation methodology. The new chemical separation method recovered more than 80 % of Tc-99m from the irradiated target. The recovered pertechnetate had requisite radionuclidic, radiochemical and chemical purity for the preparation of Tc-99m-radiopharmaceuticals.