Radiochemical separation of 82Sr and the preparation of a sterile 82Sr/82Rb generator column

Summary Ion-exchange chromatography using the chelating resins Purolite S950 and Chelex 100 was investigated for the radiochemical separation of ⁸²Sr from a RbCl target. 0.25M NH₄Cl solution was employed for the retention of Sr and elution of Rb, and 2M HCl for the elution of Sr. Although both resins showed very similar results, the conditions for adsorption of Sr were different. The ammonium chloride solution was directly used with Purolite S950 while it was necessary to adjust the pH between 9 and 10 with Chelex 100. Purolite S950 was, therefore, selected for routine production of ⁸²Sr. A procedure has been introduced for the preparation of a hydrous tin dioxide as supporting material for the ⁸²Sr/⁸²Rb generator column. All components of the generator column were made up of stainless steel. The column was 4 cm long, 9.5 mm O.D. and 7.1 mm I.D. Using isotonic saline (0.9% NaCl) for elution of ⁸²Rb, elution curves with different flow rates ranging from 5 to 20 ml/min were obtained. Maximum available ⁸²Rb was eluted in the first 20 ml. The column generator provided a sterile ⁸²Rb in isotonic saline. The breakthrough of ⁸²Sr over 4 weeks of elution using 7 liter of saline was on average 4.5 ^. 10^-5% (based on the first 20 ml eluate).