Excitation Functions and Yields for Re-186g Production by Proton Cyclotron Irradiation

186gRe is a ¿-¿¿¿emitter used in metabolic radiotherapy, thanks to its suitable nuclear properties (t1/2=90.64 h, Emax¿ 1.07, 0.93 MeV, E¿ 137 keV). Presently 186gRe is produced by neutron capture on enriched 185Re in thermal nuclear reactors, leading to a relatively low specific activity AS (activity/isotopic carrier mass). The possibility to use this radionuclide for therapeutic purpose is strictly linked to the possibility of increase the AS. 186gRe may also be produced by proton bombardment of thin natural W foils. Several test irradiations have been carried out with the cyclotron (K=40, beam current up to 60 ¿A) of JRC-Ispra, using the stacked foil technique at a number of irradiation energies. The activity of Re radionuclides produced in the irradiated targets was measured by HPGe detectors, and the cross-section data obtained for the natW(p,xn)18xRe reactions. These have been compared both with the values reported in the literature and with the model calculation using EMPIRE-II version 2.19. Finally, a simple and reliable radiochemical separation of no carrier added Re from irradiated W target material was developed, based on ion exchange chromatography on activated aluminium oxide. The experiments have been funded by the INFN Gr V (exp RENIO).

PERSICO E;  BONARDI M L;  GROPPI F;  CANELLA L;  ZONA C;  ABBAS Kamel;  HOLZWARTH Uwe;  GIBSON Peter;  SIMONELLI Federica;  MENAPACE E; 

2008-09-19

Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare

JRC40133

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC40133,