Ascorbic acid as an eluent for Tc-99m in Mo-99-Tc-99m generator system

A simple chromatographic procedure for clean separation of the important ra dionuclide, Tc-99m, in the equilibrium mixture, Mo-99-(TC)-T-99m, has been demonstrated. Separation of pure Tc-99m has been achieved by preferential e xtraction of the radioisotope through an anion exchange resin column of Amb erlite IRA-410 using Na-ascorbate solution at pH 7 as an eluent. The radioc hemical purity of the separated radiotracer has been verified by taking rec ourse to gamma-ray spectrometry. The potentiality of the developed procedur e lies in the facts that the eluting agent, ascorbic acid, itself has got i ts own biomedical importance as Vitamin C and the concerned radioisotope ca n be obtained in both Tc(IV) and Tc(VII) states as per requirement for diag nostic purposes.