Chemical contaminants in the 81Rb→/sup 81m/Kr generator arising from target deterioration

A cyclotron adjunct to a large medical center is an extremely useful tool in the armamentarium for basic biomedical research and clinical applications. However, specific quality assurances must be applied to diagnostic radionuclides that are routinely prepared. The lack of data on the toxicity of a variety of fabrication materials used for the preparation of an automated cyclotron processing system, such as the 81Rb→/sup 81m/Kr generator system, should be of concern. Of paramount importance is the design of an efficient and reproducible system requiring minimal maintenance. The stability of various components toward their surroundings, resistance to radiation damage, and temperature considerations must be addressed. In spite of conscientious planning, problems arise when unanticipated chemical moieties formed either from electrolytic and/or radiolytic processes appear. The authors experience with these unexpected species, as well as a hypothetical explanation of their origin, are presented