Production of fluorine-18 from reactor-irradiated lithium compounds

Abstract

Existing methods of separating fluorine-18 produced in reactor-irradiated lithium compounds are reviewed. Direct distillation of fluorine-18 from acidified lithium solutions and absorption with the minimum of condensation is shown to be the most satisfactory process for low activities. For remote operation the fluorine-18 is separated by absorption on a column of hydrous zirconium oxide followed by elution on passage of an alkaline solution to hydrolyse the complex fluoride. A lower recovery level for fluorine-18 on zirconium oxide is compensated by the speed at which this separation can be carried out. The irradiation of lithium hydroxide is recommended for fluorine-18 production. A procedure is described in detail for the separation of fluorine-18.