Large-scale production of Y and Zr/Y generators: A proof of concept study for a 70 MeV H cyclotron.

The large-scale production of Y with proton-induced reactions has been investigated from the perspective of new generation 70 MeV H cyclotrons. Tandem target configurations are presented for both the direct production of Y as well as for producing Zr/Y generators. Based on the relevant excitation functions, physical yields have been derived for Y production with YO/SrCO tandem targets and Zr production with Zr/YO tandem targets.

The production of (88)Y in the proton bombardment of (nat)Sr: New excitation and separation studies.

The cyclotron production of (88)Y at iThemba LABS is performed via the reaction (88)Sr(p,n)(88)Y. The yields obtained were inconsistent with nuclear data obtained from the literature and the excitation function of the nuclear reaction was re-measured, using a differentiation of thick-target production rate measurements. Ion exchange chromatographic methods are described to separate (88)Y from (nat)Sr target material using AG MP-1 resin and AG 50W-X4 resins, respectively.