PRODUCTION OF RB-82M VIA THE KR-82(P,N)-PROCESS ON HIGHLY ENRICHED KR-82 - A REMOTELY CONTROLLED COMPACT SYSTEM FOR IRRADIATION, SAFE HANDLING AND RECOVERY OF THE TARGET GAS AND ISOLATION OF THE RADIOACTIVE PRODUCT

A remotely controlled compact system for the production of 6.5 h Rb-82 m, a potential substitute for generator-produced 1.3 min Rb-82 in myoc ardial blood flow studies, has been developed. The method utilizes the Kr-82(p,n)Rb-82m process on 90% enriched Kr-82 gas. Target developmen t and other technological aspects relevant to the safe handling and re covery of the enriched gas are described. The product Rb-82m activity, deposited on the inner walls of the target, is efficiently isolated b y introducing steam in several successive cycles, the total activity b eing concentrated in about 7 mt of water. The high-current production yield of Rb-82m over the energy range of E(p) = 14.5-->10 MeV amounts to about 370 MBq (10 mCi)/mu Ah, i.e. about 90% of the theoretical val ue. The only radionuclidic impurity present was Rb-83 (T-1/2 = 86.2 da ys) at a level of 0.04% of Rb-82m. The target system described is very versatile and can also be employed for production of other medically important radionuclides (e.g. Rb-81-Kr-81m generator, Sr-83, etc.) usi ng enriched gases as target materials. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd