ACTIVATION RATES AND CHEMICAL RECOVERY OF CU-67 PRODUCED WITH LOW-ENERGY PROTON IRRADIATION OF ENRICHED ZN-70 TARGETS

Copper-67 is a radioisotope with significant potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in nuclear medicine. Despite its promise, Cu-67 has failed to make an impact in clinical nuclear medicine, prim arily because it is available sporadically, and in limited quantities. Common methods of production rely on high energy proton irradiation o f natural zinc targets or on induced reactions using high energy neutr ons at nuclear reactors. We have evaluated alternative production meth ods that could provide year-round adequate supply of this isotope. Usi ng a low energy accelerator, we have studied the production of Cu-67 b y proton reactions on enriched Zn-70. Our results indicate that it is possible to produce useful quantities of Cu-67 from the irradiation of enriched Zn-70 with protons that have energies of less than 20 MeV. P roduction rates are higher than currently used methods at high energy accelerators or reactors. This isotope can be made available throughou t the year as a result of this research.