Alternative chromatographic processes for no-carrier added 177Lu radioisotope separation Part I. Multi-column chromatographic process for clinically applicable

Abstract

The conventional multi-column solid phase extraction (SPE) chromatography technique using di-(2-ethylhexyl)orthophosphoric acid (HDEHP) impregnated OASIS-HLB sorbent based SPE resins (OASIS-HDEHP) was developed for the separation of no-carrier added (n.c.a) Lu-177 from the bulk quantity of ytterbium target. This technique exploited the large variation of lutetium metal ion distribution coefficients in the varying acidity of the HCl solution-OASIS-HDEHP resin systems for the consecutive loading-eluting cycles performed on different columns. The production batches of several hundred mCi n.c.a Lu-177 radioisotope separated from 50 mg Yb target activated in a nuclear reactor of medium neutron nux (Phi = 5 center dot 10(13) n.cm(-2).s(-1)) were successfully performed using the above mentioned separation technique. With the target irradiation in a reactor of thermal neutron flux Phi = 2 center dot 10(14) n.cm(-2).s(-1) or the parallel run of several separation units, many Ci-s of n.c.a Lu-177 can be profitably produced. The OASIS-HDEHP resin based multi-column SPE chromatography technique makes the separation process simple and economic and offers an automation capability for operation in highly radioactive hazardous environments. © 2008, Springer.