Recovery of Lu-177 from Irradiated HfO2 Targets for Nuclear Medicine Purposes

A new method of production of one of the most widely used isotopes in nuclear medicine, Lu-177, with high chemical purity was developed; this method includes irradiation of the HfO2 target with bremsstrahlung photons. The irradiated target was dissolved in HF and then diluted and placed onto a column filled with LN resin. Quantitative sorption of Lu-177 could be observed during this process. The column later was rinsed with the mixture of 0.1 M HF and 1 M HNO3 and then 2 M HNO3 to remove impurities. Quantitative desorption of Lu-177 was achieved by using 6 M HNO3. The developed method of Lu-177 production ensures high purification of this isotope from macroquantities of hafnium and zirconium and radioactive impurities of carrier-free yttrium. The content of Lu-177m in Lu-177 in photonuclear production was determined. Due to high chemical and radionuclide purity, Lu-177 obtained by the developed method can be used in nuclear medicine.