METHOD OF PRODUCING LUTETIUM-177 RADIOISOTOPE Russian patent published in 2015 - IPC G21G1/10 

FIELD: physics, atomic power.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of producing isotopes for radiation medicine. The method includes irradiating a target with neutrons and separating ¹⁷⁷Lu from the irradiated target. The target used is the ¹⁷⁶Yb isotope. The target is irradiated with a stream of neutrons from a nuclear reactor. During the irradiation process, as a result of the nuclear reaction ¹⁷⁶Yb(n,γ)¹⁷⁷Yb, ¹⁷⁷Yb is generated in the target, the decay product of which is the desired ¹⁷⁷Lu (without a carrier), which is then separated by a chromatographic technique on an ion-exchange column. The eluent used to wash off ¹⁷⁷Lu from the column is a 0.07 N solution of α-isobutyric acid. The product is cleaned from α-isobutyric acid traces on a second ion-exchange column. The eluate is acidified to pH=1-2. ¹⁷⁷Lu is collected on the column and the eluate with α-isobutyric acid is discharged as wastes. The column is then washed with 100 ml of distilled water, followed by elution of ¹⁷⁷Lu with 10 ml of 0.5 N HCl. The eluate is evaporated dry and the residue is washed with HCl with pH=5.1.

EFFECT: producing the ¹⁷⁷Lu radioisotope without a carrier in significant amounts (tens of curies) on standard research reactors, using domestic raw materials and chemicals to produce, separate and clean the ¹⁷⁷Lu radioisotope, providing labelling quality during synthesis of radiopharmaceutical agents based on ¹⁷⁷Lu.

6 cl, 1 dwg