Impurities analysis of ¹⁸F radionuclide production using 11 MeV eclipse cyclotron

Routine production of ¹⁸F radionuclide from enriched water target [¹⁸O]H₂O irradiation using heavy particle accelerator (proton) could potentially generate radioisotopes impurities in the product and cyclotron area, which eventually become safety and security concerns to the users and radiation workers. This investigation uses typical self-shielded cyclotron which can accelerate heavy particle (proton) up to a maximum energy of 11 MeV. Measurement and detection of radiation using a portable gamma spectroscopy system in the product of ¹⁸F radionuclide has been carried out and indicates radioisotope impurities such as ⁵⁶Co, ⁵²Mn, and ^110mAg. The radioisotopes are successfully activated by protons and neutrons via nuclear reactions that occur in havar foil and target body during the process of irradiation enriched water target [¹⁸O]H₂O in the cyclotron. TALYS data are used to study the nuclear cross-section and SRIM software to calculate stopping power and range ion in matter. (author)