Ion-exchange separation of radioiodine and its application to production of 124I by alpha particle induced reactions on antimony

Abstract

Abstract The basic parameters related to radiochemical separation of iodine from tellurium and antimony by anion-exchange chromatography using the resin Amberlyst A26 were studied. The separation yield of 124I amounted to 96% and the decontamination factor from 121Te and 122Sb was > 104. The method was applied to the production of 124I via the 123Sb(α, 3n) reaction. In an irradiation of 110 mg of natSb2O3 (thickness ∼ 0.08 g/cm2) with 38 MeV α-particles at 1.2 μA beam current for 4 h, corresponding to the beam energy range of E α  = 37 → 27 MeV, the batch yield of 124I obtained was 12.42 MBq and the 125I and 126I impurities amounted to 3.8% and 0.7%, respectively. The experimental batch yield of 124I amounted to 80% of the theoretically calculated value but the level of the radionuclidic impurities were in agreement with the theoretical values. About 96% of the radioiodine was in the form of iodide and the inactive impurities (Te, Sb, Sn) were below the permissible level. Due to the relatively high level of radionuclidic impurity the 124I produced would possibly be useful only for restricted local consumption or for animal experiments.