Production of 67Ga by alpha bombardment of natural zinc

Formation cross-sections and thick-target yields were obtained in detail for alpha reactions of natural zinc in the energy range of 10-40 MeV in order to determine the optimum conditions for the production of 67Ga, widely used in nuclear medicine. With the initial alpha energy of 25 MeV, the thick-target yield of 67Ga was found to be 165 μCi/μA.h, the amount of 66Ga contamination being only 19 μCi/μA.h at the end of the bombardment. The other methods of producing 67Ga were compared and discussed in terms of production yields, the amount of the 66Ga contaminant, the necessary cooling time, and the radiation hazards at the time of chemical separation. (author)