Abstract
The trend to achieve even more compact-sized systems is leading to the development of micro-scale reactors (lab-on-chip) in the field of radiochemical separation and radiopharmaceutical production. Technetium-99m extraction from both high and low specific activity molybdenum could be simply performed by MEK-driven solvent extraction if it were not for unpractical automation. The aim of this work is to develop a solvent extraction and separation process of technetium from molybdenum in a micro-scale in-flow chemistry regime with the aid of a capillary loop and a membrane-based separator, respectively. The developed system is able to extract and separate quantitatively and selectively (91.0 ± 1.8% decay corrected) the [99mTc]TcO4Na in about 20 min, by using a ZAIPUT separator device. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time in our knowledge the high efficiency of a MEK-based solvent extraction process of 99mTc from a molybdenum-based liquid phased in an in-flow micro-scale regime.
Highlights
Liquid extraction method applied to the cyclotron-production of 99m Tc from target of metallic molybdenum
The purpose of this work was to develop a different, more compact, and efficient, automatic system for the extraction of 99m Tc from molybdenum, based on the liquid–liquid in-flow extraction process and separation with a membrane separator device, which would allow for minimization of costs, times, dimensions and involved volumes, while keeping high yield and quality
This system allows the macro process of solvent extraction to be reduced to a micro scale, and follows flow chemistry laws
Summary
Kidney, brain, thyroid scans, imaging of bone lesions, and localization of myocardial infarctions are just some of the basic diagnostic tests performed daily with technetium99m (99m Tc), a gamma ray emitting radioisotope (Eγ = 140 keV, t1/2 = 6 h) which covers over 85% of diagnostic applications in Nuclear Medicine. Technetium-99m is an everlasting radionuclide which has seen the birth of Nuclear Medicine, and the recent advances in technetium chemistry and detector technologies make it still modern and competitive with trendy PET radionuclides [1]. In the late 2000s, a recurrent lack of availability of 99m Tc in the hospitals due to a global shortage of molybdenum-99 (99 Mo) because of frequent shutdowns of the ageing reactor-based 235 U fission production chain, revealed the fragility of the traditional supply chain and, prompted the research community to look for alternative production routes. Strong commitment has been devoted to the cyclotron-based direct production of
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