Method for Making Radioactive Isotopic Gallium-67

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for making carrier-free radioactive isotopic gallium-67. Stable isotopic zinc-68 is turned into zinc-68 solid target by disposition or electroplating. Then, the zinc-68 solid target is subjected to a proton beam. A cyclotron is used to provide irradiation from 15 to 40 MeV. After the irradiation, the zinc-68 solid target is dissolved in concentrated acid and turned into solution that contains zinc-65, zinc-68, gallium-67 and gallium-68. High concentrated hydrochloric acid and resin are added into the solution for exchange of ions. Zinc-68 liquid and gallium-67 liquid are filtered and separated from the solution. Thus, pure gallium-67 liquid is produced. With a vaporizer, the gallium-67 liquid is vaporized and turned into radioactive isotopic gallium-67.

1 . A method for making carrier-free radioactive isotopic gallium-67, the method comprising the steps of:
 turning isotopic zinc-68 into a zinc-68 solid target by electroplating;   subjecting the zinc-68 solid target to proton irradiation;   dissolving the zinc-68 solid target in strong acid, thus providing solution that contains zinc-65, zinc-68, gallium-67 and gallium-68;   adding hydrochloric acid and resin in the solution for exchange of ions;   filtering the solution, thus providing zinc-68 solution and gallium-67 solution; and   evaporating the gallium-67 solution, thus providing radioactive isotopic gallium-67.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the intensity of the proton irradiation is 15 to 40 MeV. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the strong acid used to dissolve the zinc-68 solid target is hydrochloric acid with concentration of 8N to 12N. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the hydrochloric acid added in the solution is 8N to 12N.