Radiochemical separation and quality assessment for the 68Zn target based 64Cu radioisotope production

The radiochemical separation of the different radionuclides ( 64 Cu, 67 Cu, 67 Ga, 66 Ga, 56 Ni, 57 Ni, 55 Co, 56 Co, 57 Co, 65 Zn, 196 Au) induced in the Ni supported Cu substrate — 68 Zn target system, which was bombarded with the 29.0 MeV proton beam, was performed by ion-exchange chromatography using successive isocratic and/or concentration gradient elution techniques. The overlapped gamma-ray spectrum analysis method was developed to assess the 67 Ga and 67 Cu content in the 64 Cu product and even in the post- 67 Ga production 68 Zn target solution without the support of radiochemical separation. This method was used for the assessment of 64+67 Cu radioisotope separation from 67 Ga, the quality control of 64 Cu product and the determination of the 68 Zn (p,2p) 67 Cu reaction yield. The improvement in the targetry and the optimization of proton beam energy for the 68 Zn target based 64 Cu and 67 Ga production were proposed based on the stopping power and range of the incident proton and on the excitation functions, reaction yields and different radionuclides induced in the target system.