Improving the separation of Cu(II) from Zn(II) based on an anion exchanger for the preparation a 62Zn/62Cu generator

A separation procedure of (64,67)Cu(II) from (65)Zn(II) was studied for serving (62)Zn/(62)Cu generator preparation. The distribution coefficients of (65)Zn(II) and (64,67)Cu(II) ions from homogeneous medium of hydrochloric acid and acetone onto De-Acidite FF anion exchanger were investigated. Both hydrochloric acid and acetone concentrations are important factors that affect the separation process. Effects of decreasing the HCl concentration from 0.2 to 0.04 M, increasing the acetone concentration from 5% to 80% and different acetone concentrations (5-97%) in 0.2M HCl were also studied on the separation of (64,67)Cu(II) from (65)Zn(II). The exchange capacity of Zn(II) on the De-Acidite FF matrix was obtained as 3.8 meq/g and the(64,67)Cu(II) elution efficiency was 92.5% using 20 ml of 0.2M HCl-60% acetone with flow rate of 2 ml/min.The radionuclidic purity and radiochemical purity of the eluted (64,67)Cu(II) were examined.