High radioactive concentration of 99mTc from a zirconium [99Mo]molybdate gel generator using an acidic alumina column for purification and concentration

TcGenerator Development: Up-to-DateTcRecovery Technologies for Increasing the Effectiveness ofMoUtilisation

A review on theMosources available today and on theTcgenerators developed up to date for increasing the effectiveness ofMoutilisation is performed in the format of detailed description of the features and technical performance of the technological groups of theMoproduction andTcrecovery. The latest results of the endeavour in this field are also surveyed in regard of the technical solution for overcoming the shortage ofMosupply. The technological topics are grouped and discussed in a way to reflect the similarity in the technological process of each group. The following groups are included in this review which are high specific activityMo: the current issues of production, the efforts of more effective utilisation, and the high specific activityMo-basedTcgenerator andTcconcentration units; low specific activityMo: theMoproduction based on neutron capture and accelerators and the direct production ofTcand the methods of increasing the specific activity ofMousing Szilard-Chalmers reaction and high electric power isotopic separator; up-to-date technologies ofTcrecovery from low specific activityMo: the solvent extraction-basedTcgenerator, the sublimation methods forMo/Tcseparation, the electrochemical method forTcrecovery, and the column chromatographic methods forTcrecovery. Besides the traditionalTc-generator systems, the integratedTcgenerator systems (Tcgenerator column combined with postelution purification/concentration unit) are discussed with the format of process diagram and picture of real generator systems. These systems are the technetium selective sorbent column-based generators, the high Mo-loading capacity column-based integratedTcgenerator systems which include the saline-eluted generator systems, and the nonsaline aqueous and organic solvent eluent-eluted generator systems using high Mo-loading capacity molybdategel and recently developed sorbent columns.Tcconcentration methods used in theTcrecovery from low specific activityMoare also discussed with detailed process diagrams which are surveyed in two groups forTcconcentration from the saline and nonsalineTc-eluates. The evaluation methods for the performance ofTc-recovery/concentration process and for theTc-elution capability versus Mo-loading capacity of generator column produced using low specific activityMosource are briefly reported. Together with the theoretical aspects ofTc/Moand sorbent chemistry, these evaluation/assessment processes will be useful for any further development in the field of theTcrecovery andMo/Tcgenerator production.

Indigenous technology development and standardization of the process for obtaining ready to use sterile sodium pertechnetate-Tc-99m solution from Geltech generator

Purpose of the Study:

The indigenous design and technology development for processing large scale zirconium molybdate-Mo-99 (ZrMo-99) Geltech generator was successfully commissioned in Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), India, in 2006. The generator production facility comprises of four shielded plant facilities equipped with tongs and special process gadgets amenable for remote operations for radiochemical processing of ZrMo-99 gel.

Results:

Over 2800 Geltech generators have been processed and supplied to user hospitals during the period 2006-2013. Geltech generator supplied by BRIT was initially not sterile. Simple elution of Tc-99m is performed by a sterile evacuated vial with sterile and pyrogen free 0.9% NaCl solution to obtain sodium (Tc-99m) pertechnetate solution. A special type online 0.22 μm membrane filter has been identified and adapted in Geltech generator.

Conclusions:

The online filtration of Tc-99m from Geltech generator; thus, provided sterile Tc-99m sodium pertechnetate solution. Generators assembled with modified filter assembly were supplied to local hospital in Mumbai Radiation Medicine Centre (RMC) and S.G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital) and excellent performances were reported by users.