A 3D-printed device for separating short-lived radioisotopes from target ions

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Chemistry and Radiochemistry
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Separation of metal radioactive isotopes (RIs) is essential for cyclotron-based production.
• Existing methods can be costly and time-consuming.
• Need for efficient, disposable separation devices for practical RI applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel 3D-printed device for in-line separation of metal RIs.
• To demonstrate a cost-effective and disposable solution for RI purification.
• To assess the device's universality and efficiency for different RI/target systems.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a disposable separation device using 3D-printing technology.
• In-line separation process involving selective chelate formation, ion adsorption, and UV-induced complex decomposition.
• Evaluation of separation performance using 67Ga/Zn and 89Zr/Y systems with varying acid concentrations.

Main Results:

• The 3D-printed device successfully performed in-line separation for practical solution volumes (approx. 10 mL).
• Nearly quantitative RI recoveries were achieved without target contamination for both tested systems.
• Automated, high-purity RI solutions were obtained within 30 minutes.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D-printed device provides a universal, cost-effective, and disposable method for metal RI separation.
• The system's adaptability via chelate formation conditions (acid concentration) enhances its applicability.
• This novel device is well-suited for a broad spectrum of RI-related applications, including medical imaging and research.