Large scale production of .sup.64Cu and .sup.67Cu via the .sup.64Zn.sup.67Cu reactions using accelerator neutrons

Both .sup.64Cu and .sup.67Cu are promising radionuclides in nuclear medicine. Production yields of these radionuclides were quantified by irradiating 55.4 g of natural zinc with accelerator neutrons. Clinically suitable .sup.64Cu and .sup.67Cu yields were estimated by experimental based numerical simulations using 100 g of enriched .sup.64Zn and .sup.68Zn, respectively, and elevated neutron fluxes from 40 MeV, 2 mA deuterons. A combined thermal- and resin-separation method was developed to isolate .sup.64Cu and .sup.67Cu from zinc, resulting in 73% separation efficiency and 97% zinc recovery. Such methods can provide large scale production of .sup.64Cu and .sup.67Cu for clinical applications.