Radioactive isotope separation with 3D-printed flow-based device.

Area of Science:

• Radiochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Nuclear Medicine

Background:

• Radioactive isotope (RI) metals are crucial tracers for positron emission tomography (PET).
• Efficient and rapid separation of RI metals from target materials is essential for their application.
• Current separation methods can be time-consuming and complex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel 3D-printed flow device for rapid and effective separation of metal RIs from target metals.
• To utilize selective ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) complexation for separation based on formation constants.
• To integrate a system for both separation and subsequent recovery of the target RI metal.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 3D-printed flow device incorporating selective EDTA complexation and cation exchange chromatography.
• Automated separation process controlled by chelator addition and pH adjustment.
• Integration of an ultraviolet (UV) radiation reactor for EDTA complex decomposition and metal ion recovery.

Main Results:

• Successful separation of radioactive isotope ⁶⁷Ga from target Zn within 14 minutes with high recoveries (97% for ⁶⁷Ga, 100% for Zn).
• Effective recovery of Ga³⁺ ions (87%) after EDTA complex decomposition using UV radiation.
• Demonstrated applicability to the separation of other metal pairs, such as Zr and Y.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D-printed flow system provides a rapid, effective, and automated method for separating metal RIs from target metals.
• The integrated UV reactor allows for efficient recovery of purified RI metals.
• This technology holds significant potential for application in radiopharmaceutical production and other areas requiring precise metal isotope separation.