Ion-exchange separation of radioiodine and its application to production of 124 I by alpha particle induced reactions on antimony

• Published in: Radiochimica acta Vol. 103; no. 8; pp. 587 - 593
• Main Authors: Uddin, Md. Shuza, Qaim, Syed M., Hermanne, Alex, Spahn, Ingo, Spellerberg, Stefan, Scholten, Bernhard, Hossain, Syed Mohammod, Coenen, Heinz H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 28.08.2015
• ISSN: 0033-8230; 2193-3405
• DOI: 10.1515/ract-2014-2359

Abstract The basic parameters related to radiochemical separation of iodine from tellurium and antimony by anion-exchange chromatography using the resin Amberlyst A26 were studied. The separation yield of 124 I amounted to 96% and the decontamination factor from 121 Te and 122 Sb was > 10 4 . The method was applied to the production of 124 I via the 123 Sb( α , 3 n ) reaction. In an irradiation of 110 mg of nat Sb 2 O 3 (thickness ∼ 0.08 g/cm 2 ) with 38 MeV α -particles at 1.2 μA beam current for 4 h, corresponding to the beam energy range of E α  = 37 → 27 MeV, the batch yield of 124 I obtained was 12.42 MBq and the 125 I and 126 I impurities amounted to 3.8% and 0.7%, respectively. The experimental batch yield of 124 I amounted to 80% of the theoretically calculated value but the level of the radionuclidic impurities were in agreement with the theoretical values. About 96% of the radioiodine was in the form of iodide and the inactive impurities (Te, Sb, Sn) were below the permissible level. Due to the relatively high level of radionuclidic impurity the 124 I produced would possibly be useful only for restricted local consumption or for animal experiments.