Production of ~(82m)Rb via the ~(82)Kr(p,n)-process on Highly Enriched ~(82)Kr: a Remotely Controlled Compact System for Irradiation, Safe Handling and Recovery of the Target Gas and Isolation of the Radioactive Product

摘要

A remotely controlled compact system for the production of 6.5 h ~(82m)Rb, a potential substitute for generator-produced 1.3 min ~(82)Rb in myocardial blood flow studies, has been developed. The method utilizes the ~(82)Kr(p,n)~(82m) Rb process on 90%enriched ~(82)Kr gas. Target development and other technological aspects relevant to the safe handling and recovery of the enriched gas are described. The product ~(82m)Kb activity, deposited on the inner walls of the target, is efficiently isolated byintroducing steam in several successive cycles, the total activity being concentrated in about 7 mL of water. The high-current production yield of ~(82m)Kb over the energy range of E_p = 14.5->10 MeV amounts to about 370 MBq (10 mCi)/mu Ah, i.e. about 90% of the theoretical value. The only radionuclidic impurity present was ~(83)Rb (T_(1/2) = 86.2 days) at a level of 0.04% of ~(82m)Rb. The target system described is very versatile and can also be employed for production of other medically important radionuclides (e.g. ~(81)Rb-~(81m)Kr generator, ~(83)Sr, etc.) using enriched gases as target materials.