A solvent-extraction module for cyclotron production of high-purity technetium-99m

The design and fabrication of a fully-automated, remotely controlled module for the extraction and purification of technetium-99m (Tc-99m), produced by proton bombardment of enriched Mo-100 molybdenum metallic targets in a low-energy medical cyclotron, is here described. After dissolution of the irradiated solid target in hydrogen peroxide, Tc-99m was obtained under the chemical form of (TcO4-)-Tc-99m, in high radionuclidic and radiochemical purity, by solvent extraction with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). The extraction process was accomplished inside a glass column-shaped vial especially designed to allow for an easy automation of the whole procedure. Recovery yields were always > 90% of the loaded activity. The final pertechnetate saline solution (NaTcO4)-Tc-99m, purified using the automated module here described, is within the Pharmacopoeia quality control parameters and is therefore a valid alternative to generator-produced Tc-99m. The resulting automated module is cost-effective and easily replicable for in-house production of high-purity Tc-99m by cyclotrons