Cyclotron production of ~(169)Yb: A potential radiolanthanide for brachytherapy

摘要

In the present study, ytterbium-169 was produced via the ~(169)Tm(p, n)~(169)Yb nuclear process at the AMIRS (Cyclone-30, IBA, Belgium) cyclotron, irradiating Tm2O3 with proton particles of 15 MeV primary energy and 20 μA current for 20 min. Deposition of Tm_2O_3 on Cu substrate was carried out via by the sedimentation method. The 543 mg of thulium(III)oxide with 108 mg of ethyl cellulose and 8 mL of acetone were used to prepare a Tm_2O_3 layer of 11.69 cm~2. Yields of about 0.643 MBq ~(169)Yb per μAh were experimentally obtained. ~(169)Yb was separated in 80 ± 5% radiochemical yield using liquid-liquid extraction. Solvent extraction of no-carrier-added ~(169)Yb from irradiated thulium(III)oxide target hydrochloric solution was investigated using di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP).