Production of ⁶⁷Cu at electron linacs - development of photonuclear technology

⁶⁷Cu an emerging medically useful isotope, from both therapeutic and diagnostic standpoints was produced via the Bremsstrahlung irradiation of end point energy 15 MeV on natural Zn in a prototype electron linear accelerator (linac) at Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER). ⁶⁷Cu of high specific activity and radionuclidic purity was obtained by radiochemical separation from the target mass by ion exchange. 3 kBq/gm/kW of ⁶⁷Cu in 45 minutes of irradiation was produced. The results indicate that, electron linac technology appears as a promising option for the ⁶⁸Zn(γ,p)⁶⁷Cu reaction, despite the modest photonuclear cross sections. (author)