Production and radiochemical separation of a potential immuno-PET imaging agent ⁸⁹Zr from proton irradiated ^natY target

⁸⁹Zr is an interesting immuno-PET imaging agent due to its favorable physical characteristics of 78.4 h half-life and a relatively low positron energy of 0.9 MeV. The production of ⁸⁹Zr from ^natY foil has been carried out with 12 MeV as well as 18 MeV proton beam from VEC cyclotron through ⁸⁹Y(p, n)⁸⁹Zr reaction. The experimental yield of ⁸⁹Zr was 7mCi (0.5mCi/μAh) at EOB Radiochemical separation of ⁸⁹Zr from irradiated Y target matrix has been achieved by different separation methodologies like anion-exchange chromatography, cation exchange chromatography and by sephadex column. Finally, ⁸⁹Zr so obtained has been labeled with oxine. (author)