Feasibility study for the production of P-32-labeled diphosphonic acids byneutron irradiation and radiochemical separation

Two simple diphosphonates, CH6P2O6 (MDP) and C2H8P2O7 (HEDP), have been irr adiated with neutrons to produce the corresponding P-32-labeled compounds. After irradiation for 0.5-5 hours in a thermal neutron flux of 4.2 . 10(16) n .m(-2) s(-1) the irradiated compounds were dissolved and fractionated us ing a Sephadex G10 column. The separated fractions were identified using pl anar paper chromatography and autoradiography. The labeling yield was ca 35 % for each of the compounds, and the specific activity attainable ranged up to 4.8 GBq . mol(-1). For practical applications, the labeled diphosphonat es have to be purified further.