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 . A method of preparing a sulfated alumina adsorbent for an isotope, comprising:
 reacting aluminum tri-sec-butoxide with anhydrous sulfuric acid in presence of an alcohol solvent, thus substituting a butoxy group thereof with a sulfate group (step 1); and   adding the reaction solution 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 a gel (step 2) to provide a sulfated alumina adsorbent.   
   
   
       2 . A method of preparing an alumina-sulfated zirconia adsorbent for an isotope, comprising:
 adding an aluminum tri-sec-butoxide solution dissolved in alcohol 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 presence of an alcohol solvent, thus preparing sulfated zirconium (step 2); and   mixing the reaction solution of step 1 with the reaction solution 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 a gel (step 3) to provide an alumina-sulfated zirconia adsorbent.   
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol solvent is selected from the group consisting of alkyl alcohol, aryl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the alcohol solvent is selected from the group consisting of alkyl alcohol, aryl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hydrochloric acid for hydrolysis is a diluted hydrochloric acid with water and ethanol. 
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the hydrochloric acid for hydrolysis is a diluted hydrochloric acid with water and ethanol. 
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the amount of hydrochloric acid, water, and ethanol are 0.001-1 mol, 0.1-30 mol, and 0.001-100 mol, respectively. 
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the amount of hydrochloric acid, water, and ethanol are 0.001-1 mol, 0.1-30 mol, and 0.001-100 mol, respectively. 
   
   
       9 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the aging is conducted for 1-72 hours, and the drying is performed at 50-300° C. for 1-72 hours. 
   
   
       10 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the aging is conducted for 12-72 hours, and the drying is performed at 50-200° C. for 12-72 hours.