An improved tungsten-188/rhenium-188 gel generator based on zirconium tungstate

An improved 188W-188Re gel generator based on Zr tungstate is described. The influence of synthesis parameters and pre-treatment conditions on 188Re elution yields and the 188W breakthrough was studied with 0.15M aqueous solution of NaCl at pH 5.3 to 7.3 as well as with some organic solvents. An elution efficiency of 80% was achieved during 3 month of exploitation with 0.15M NaCl at pH=6.3. The 188W breakthrough was 10-4 to 10-3%. The 188W breakthrough may be decreased to 10-6% when converted into tandem generator with an alumina column. However, 188Re yields are reduced by 8-12% with a tandem generator. (author) 14 refs.; 6 figs.; 3 tabs