Production and separation of carrier-free lutetium, ytterbium and thulium radionuclides from 75 MeV C-12(6+) irradiated terbium foil target

Heavy ion activation of natural terbium foil with 75 MeV C-12(6+) results i n the formation of carrier-free lutetium isotopes, Lu165-167, and their cor responding decay products, Yb165-167 and Tm165-167, in the matrix. Carrier- free lutetium and ytterbium isotopes have been separated quantitatively fro m terbium bulk target matrix using HDEHP liquid cation exchanger. Radiochem ically pure thulium radionuclides have been obtained after the decay of ytt erbium radionuclides.