Production of 123I by bombarding a natural tellurium target with alpha and 3He particles

In order to determine the optimum irradiation conditions to produce 123I for nuclear medical use, excitation curves and thick-target yield curves were measured by means of the stacked foil technique for α and 3He reactions producing 123Xe, 123I, 125Xe and 130I, from natural tellurium. The 123Xe yields from natural tellurium are too low for routine production. However, by bombarding a 76.5% isotopically enriched 123Te target with 30 MeV 3He particles, 724 μCi/μAh of 123I was obtained, whereas the level of 125I contaminant was about 0.14%. 130Te contaminant in the enriched 123Te target produces 130I α and 3H bombardment although it has not been reported in the past. The 130I contaminant can be easily eliminated. (auth.)