Radiochemical Separation Relevant to the no-carrier-added Production of 90Nb: A Potential Radiopharmaceutical for PET Imaging

Niobium-90 (90Nb), a radioisotope of paramount importance in the field of nuclear medicine, has been effectively synthesized and separated from target materials through natZr(p,n)90Nb and 90Zr(p,n)90Nb reactions. The attainment of high-purity Niobium -90 necessitates the use of exceptionally pure zirconium-90 isotopes, prompting the establishment of a meticulously structured three-stage production process. In the initial phase, the enrichment of 90Zr stable is achieved through Electromagnetic Isotope Separation (EMIS). The resulting enriched zirconium oxide target material undergoes rigorous validation through X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, confirming isotopic and chemical purities quantified at 99.22% and 99.85%, respectively. These purities are ascertained through advanced techniques, including gamma spectrometry and Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). The subsequent stage involves the irradiation of target materials, prepared from natZrO2 and 90ZrO2 powders, within the cyclotron accelerator. The third and final phase, post-irradiation, encompasses an elaborate chemical purification process, employing ion-exchange method. This process refines Niobium -90 from the target materials. The assessment of Niobium-90 activity purity, derived from both natural and enriched sources, confirms purities of 98.69% and 100%, respectively, through meticulous examination using a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector.