Existing methods of separating fluorine-18 produced in reactor-irradiated lithium compounds are reviewed. Direct distillation of fluorine-18 from acidified lithium solutions and absorption with the minimum of condensation is shown to he the most satisfactory process for low activities. For remote operation the fluorine-18 is separated by absorption on a column of hydrous zirconium oxide followed by elution on passage of an alkaline solution to hydrolyze the complex fluoride. A lower recovery level for fluorine-18 on zirconium oxide is compensated by the speed at which this separation can be carried out. The irradiation of lithium hydroxide is recommended for fluorine-18 production. A procedure is described in detail for the separation of fluorine-18.
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