Direct flow separation strategy, to isolate no-carrier-added⁹⁰Nb from irradiated Mo or Zr targets

Abstract

90 Nb has an intermediate half-life of 14.6 h, a high positron branching of 53% and optimal + emission energy of only mean 0.35 MeV per decay. These favorable characteristics suggest it may be a potential candidate for application in immuno-PET. Our recent aim was to conduct studies on distribution coefficients for Zr IV and Nb V in mixtures of HCl/H 2 O 2 and HCl/oxalic acid for anion exchange resin (AG 1×8) and UTEVA resin to develop a "direct flow" separation strategy for 90 Nb. The direct flow concept refers to a separation accomplished using a single eluent on multiple columns, effectively streamlining the separation process and increasing the time efficiency. Finally, we also demonstrated that this separation strategy is applicable to the production of the positron emitter 90 Nb via the irradiation of molybdenum targets and isolation of 90 Nb from the irradiated molybdenum target.

Expanding the PET radioisotope universe utilizing solid targets on small medical cyclotrons

“…Anion exchange was performed using an AG 1 × 8 resin (200–400 mesh) resin to retain the niobium product. To elute the niobium, a mixture of 1% H 2 O 2 in 6 M HCl 101 or 0.1 M oxalic acid 103 was used. If the former was used for elution, the H 2 O 2 should be removed by heating the eluate for 5 min at 120 °C.…”