A MO-99 TC-99M GENERATOR BASED ON THE USE OF ZIRCONIUM MOLYBDOPHOSPHATE-MO-99 GEL

A modified Mo-99-Tc-99m gel generator is described. The present genera tor uses an insoluble zirconium molybdophosphate (ZrMP) gel tagged wit h Mo-99. Molybdenum-99 is chemically combined in the gel structure and cannot be eluted from the matrix. The presence of phosphate increases the chemical stability of the gel and decreases the molybdenum breakt hrough. The prepared gel is sufficiently porous to permit ready diffus ion of (TcO4-)-Tc-99m which can be eluted with saline in yields of up to 90%. The gel was found to contain 25.1% Mo, 21.9% Zr, and 0.7% P in a molar ratio of 1.09:1.0:0.09, respectively. The high molybdenum con tent of the gel allows the use of cheap, non-polluting (n, gamma)Mo-99 . The eluted Tc-99m was of high purity and can be used for medical and pharmaceutical applications.