Sterilisation of Al2O3 for production of /sup 99m/Tc generators

The effect of sterilization of Al2O3 (by radiation, thermal treatment or in the autoclave) on its adsorption capacity and efficiency of elution of /sup 99m/Tc has been investigated. No difference has been observed in the adsorption capacity of sterilized and unsterilized Al2O3 samples. However, the efficiency of elution of /sup 99m/Tc differed in sterilized and unsterilized samples, and even depended on the sterilization procedure used. The highest elution efficiency was found with unsterilized Al2O3 (94%), somewhat lower with thermally sterilized (90%) and the lowest with 60Co gamma radiation sterilized Al2O3 (85%). Al2O3 sterilized at 300 0C has slightly higher adsorption capacity with respect to molybdenum. (author)