A generator system for production of medical alpha-radionuclides Ac-225 and Bi-213

A generator system, consisting of two anion- and one cation-exchange columns for production of medical α-radionuclides ²²⁵Ac and ²¹³Bi, has been developed. The first anion-exchange column was used for periodical separation of ²²⁵Ac from Th with 8 M HNO₃, while the second anion-exchange column was employed for purification of ²²⁵Ac from Ra and inactive impurities in mixed HNO₃/CH₃OH media. From anion-exchange column ²²⁵Ac was stripped with 0.1–0.2 M HNO₃ and loaded directly onto cation-exchange column, used as a generator for repeated isolation of ²¹³Bi. The cation exchange behavior of Bi and other radionuclides of the interest were studied in diluted HCl, HBr and DTPA solutions used as eluents. As result, a simple and effective method for the production and purification of ²²⁵Ac and ²¹³Bi suitable for biomedical studies was elaborated.