Simple separation of 67Cu from bulk zinc by coprecipitation using hydrogen sulfide gas and silver nitrate

Abstract

Abstract Copper-67 (67Cu), a feasible radionuclide for diagnosis and radiotherapy, is commercially generated from a bulk zinc (Zn) target using the 68Zn(p, 2p)67Cu and 68Zn(γ, p)67Cu nuclear reactions. Because it uses a large amount of zinc, the separation is complex – requiring a combination of three ion exchange columns – and is time-consuming (about 1 day). We developed a quick and easy separation method referred to as “double coprecipitation” using H2S gas and silver nitrate as coprecipitation agents in place of ion exchange columns. We compared this method with a conventional separation method using three ion exchange columns (AG50W-X8, AG1-X8, and Chelex-100) for a natural zinc (natZn) target irradiated by a proton beam. The product quality and the recovery rate with the new method were competitive with the conventional method, and the total operation time was reduced from 1 day to <3 h.