Cyclotron production of PET radionuclides: No-carrier-added fluorine-18 (109.77 min; β + 96.9%; EC 3.1%) with high-energy protons on sodium targets

Abstract

The production of no-carrier-added (NCA) 18F from reactions induced by high-energy protons on Na-containing targets was studied. Single (mCi/μAh) and cumulative yields (mCi/μAh) for 18F were measured in the 67.5–20 MeV proton energy range. Total cross sections (mbarns) were then calculated from the experimental radionuclide yields. Preliminary results of a radiochemical process to separate and purify NCA 18F from Na targets are also reported and evaluated. The production of 18F from Na is compared with other existing techniques as well as with other high-energy proton-induced reactions on solid targets (Al, Mg) reported previously. Other radionuclides (i.e. 24Na, 22Na, 7Be and 34mCl) were also produced with protons on NaCl and Na 2CO 3 targets. The effects of these radiocontaminants is also discussed. Finally, a comparison is made for the 23Na(p,x) excitation function, measured experimentally and calculated using the ALICE82 nuclear reaction code.