99mTc generator with hydrated MnO2 as adsorbent of 99Mo

Abstract

An 99mTc generator with MnO2 as adsorbent of 99Mo was investigated. Through batch experiments the retention of 99Mo onto MnO2was studied as a function of the shaking time and the pH value of the 99Mo solution. It was found that 99Mo showed a retention of 100% onto MnO2 at the pH range from 3 to 11, and the equilibrium distribution was reached in less than 10 minutes. In column experiments the retention of 99Mo onto MnO2 was also high: 99.72%. In this case, the pH of the utilized 99Mo solution was 5. The 99mTc could be eluted from the MnO2-99Mo column by using either distilled water with a pH of 5 or an aqueous solution of 0.9% NaCl. With the saline solution, the 99mTc elution yields were higher than 80%, and only one aliquot of 5 ml was needed to get these yields. The best results were obtained when the column was packed with 1 g of MnO2. The water and the saline solution were passed through the column at a rate of 1.25 ml/min.