Scandium isotopes, such as 43,44,47Sc, have been identified as promising diagnostic and therapeutic tools for treating cancer. However, an ideal production route for 47Sc has not been found, limiting further research into its therapeutic benefits. At the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, our research group can produce and collect 47Ca through isotope harvesting. When the primary experiment uses an accelerated 48Ca primary beam, the unreacted portion of the beam can be directed into a water-filled target. The target water flows through an isotope harvesting system, which contains components that monitor and condition the water as well as collect stable and radioactive ions in the water. An end-of-beam-line experiment was performed in which the water-filled target was irradiated with 1 pnA of 140 MeV/nucleon 48Ca for 6 hours. During the experiment, the water was circulated over strong cation exchange resins (AG 50W-X8, H+ form) to collect cationic radioactive or stable ions in the water. A total of 97(4) μCi of 47Ca were produced compared to 67 μCi predicted from production rates calculated with PHITS, a reaction and transport code. Three separation methods were successfully used to purify calcium from the mixture of co-produced radionuclides collected on the cation columns: DGA resin and a combination of HNO3 and HCl; AG MP-50 cation exchange resin and an increasing concentration gradient of HCl; AG MP-50 resin and a methanol/HCl mixture. In an upcoming experiment, our water-filled target will be irradiated with up to 80 pnA of 140 MeV/nucleon 48Ca beam for a maximum of 20 hours. A total of 23 mCi of produced 47Ca is predicted. The separation methods described previously will be used to better understand the separation of 47Ca from stable contaminant ions. From the purified 47Ca fractions, 47Sc will be generated and used to demonstrate radiolabeling with harvested 47Sc.

Isotope harvesting of 47Ca for the generation of 47Sc at a heavy ion fragmentation facility

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.