PRODUCTION OF 11C-METHYL IODIDE

The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for high yield production of 11C-methyl iodide by selectively monohalogenating 11C-methane, whereby the method is comprising a first step of introducing 11CH4 into an apparatus containing a circulation system comprising a number of connected circulation members (1 - 7), and the circulation system is further comprising a number of valves (V1 - V5) and at least one pump (8) for controlling the circulation. The method further comprises a second step of recirculation of 11CH4 and introduction of iodine vapors into the circulating gas stream passed through a heated reaction chamber (3) within the apparatus having the circulation system during a predefined time period during continuous removal of formed 11CH3I by means of a second trap (7), and a third step of releasing after the predefined time period the produced 11C-methyl iodide for further processing by heating the second trap (7) containing the produced 11CH3I while leading a stream of inert gas through the second trap, whereby this second trap (7) will act as a small size chromatograph purifying the desired 11CH3I.