Adsorbents for Radioisotopes, Preparation Method Thereof, and Radioisotope Generators Using the Same

Abstract

Disclosed is a novel adsorbent for use in a 99 Mo/ 99m Tc generator, which is a medical diagnostic radioisotope generator, and in a 188 W/ 188 Re generator, which is a therapeutic radioisotope generator. The adsorbent composed of sulfated alumina or alumina-sulfated zirconia exhibits adsorption capacity superior to that of conventional adsorbents, and is stable and is thus loaded in a dry state in an adsorption column so that the radioisotope 99 Mo or 188 W can be adsorbed. Thus, it is possible to miniaturize the column, and such a miniaturized column is small, convenient to use, and highly efficient, and extracts a radioisotope satisfying the requirements for pharmaceuticals, and thus can be useful for radioisotope generators extracting 99m Tc or 188 Re.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A method for generating  99m Tc or  188 Re, comprising:
 adsorbing  99 Mo or  188 W onto an adsorbent having an alumina backbone with a sulfate group or an alumina-zirconia backbone with a sulfate group;   allowing the  99 Mo or  188 W to be decayed to  99m Tc or  188 Re respectively; and   eluting  99m Tc or  188 Re with a solvent.   
   
   
       18 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein  99 Mo or  188 W is adsorbed onto an adsorbent having an alumina backbone with a sulfate group. 
   
   
       19 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein  99 Mo or  188 W is adsorbed onto an adsorbent having an alumina-zirconia backbone with a sulfate group. 
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the adsorbent adsorbs molybdate (MoO 4 ) or tungstenate (WO 4   2− ) via an ion exchange reaction involving the sulfate group. 
   
   
       21 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the adsorbent adsorbs molybdate (MoO 4   2− ) or tungstenate (WO 4   2− ) via an ion exchange reaction involving the sulfate group. 
   
   
       22 . The method as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the solvent for eluting is physiological saline. 
   
   
       23 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the adsorbent is prepared by steps of:
 reacting aluminum tri-sec-butoxide with anhydrous sulfuric acid in the presence of an alcohol solvent, thus substituting a butoxy group thereof with a sulfate group (step 1); and   treating the resulting mixture of step 1 with hydrochloric acid for hydrolysis, aging the solution at room temperature for a predetermined period of time, and drying it at an elevated temperature, thus forming the adsorbent as a gel (step 2).   
   
   
       24 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the adsorbent is prepared by steps of:
 treating an aluminum tri-sec-butoxide solution dissolved in an alcohol solvent with hydrochloric acid for hydrolysis, thus substituting a butoxy group thereof with a hydroxyl group (step 1);   reacting zirconium (IV) butoxide with anhydrous sulfuric acid in the presence of an alcohol solvent, thus preparing sulfated zirconium (step 2); and   mixing the resulting mixture of step 1 with the resulting mixture of step 2, aging the solution mixture at room temperature for a predetermined period of time, and drying it at an elevated temperature, thus forming the adsorbent as a gel (step 3).   
   
   
       25 . The method as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the alcohol solvent is alkyl alcohol, aryl alcohol, or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       26 . The method as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the alcohol solvent is alkyl alcohol, aryl alcohol, or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       27 . The method as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the hydrochloric acid for hydrolysis is a mixture of hydrochloric acid, water and ethanol. 
   
   
       28 . The method as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein the hydrochloric acid for hydrolysis is a mixture of hydrochloric acid, water and ethanol.