Dynamic properties on Mo adsorption and Tc elution with alumina columns

Fujita, Yoshitaka   ; Seki, Misaki  ; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Suzuki, Tatsuya*; Yoshinaga, Hisao*; Hori, Junichi*; Suematsu, Hisayuki*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko 

Technetium-99m (Tc), the daughter nuclide of Molybdenum-99 (Mo), is the most commonly used radioisotope in radiopharmaceuticals. The research and development (R&D) for the production of Mo by the neutron activation method ((n, ) method) has been carried out from viewpoints of no-proliferation and nuclear security, etc. Since the specific activity of Mo produced by the (n, ) method is extremely low, developing AlO with a large Mo adsorption capacity is necessary to adapt (n, )Mo to the generator. In this study, three kinds of AlO specimens with different raw materials were prepared and compared their adaptability to generators by static and dynamic adsorption. MoO pellet pieces (1.5g) were irradiated with 5 MW for 20 min in the Kyoto University Research Reactor (KUR). Irradiated MoO pellet pieces were dissolved in 6M-NaOH aq. In dynamic adsorption, 1 g of AlO was filled into a PFA tube (1.59 mm). The Mo adsorption capacity of AlO specimens under dynamic condition was slightly reduced compared to that under static condition. The Tc elution rate was about 100% at 1.5 mL of milking in dynamic adsorption, while it was around 56-87% in static adsorption. The Mo/Tc ratio of dynamic condition was greatly reduced compared to that of static condition. Therefore, the Tc elution property is greatly affected by the method of adsorbing Mo, e.g., the column shape, the linear flow rate, etc.