A method for producing a radionuclide comprises irradiating a target material with a linear accelerator to produce a radionuclide, dissolving the irradiated target material comprising the radionuclide, and separating the radionuclide from the irradiated target material. Additional methods are disclosed.

Compositions comprising high levels of high specific activity copper-64, and process for preparing said compositions. The compositions comprise from about 2 Ci to about 15 Ci of copper-64 and have specific activities up to about 3800 mCi copper-64 per microgram of copper. The processes for preparing said compositions comprise bombarding a nickel-64 target with a low energy, high current proton beam, and purifying the copper-64 from other metals by a process comprising ion exchange chromatography or a process comprising a combination of extraction chromatography and ion exchange chromatography.

A method for producing Pb-212 and Ac-225 isotopes is disclosed. The method comprises irradiating a Ra-226 containing target with charged particles and/or photons for producing at least Ac-225 isotopes and Ac-224 isotopes. The method further comprises after a cooling time, applying chromatography for separating actinium from the remaining fraction containing radium. The method also comprises, after a first further waiting time, applying extraction chromatography using a resin having an 18-crown-6 ether or an equivalent of an 18-crown-6 ether, as extractant in HNO3 and/or HCl for separating Pb from the remaining fraction containing radium.

The actinium generator described herein is based on peroxide precipitation of thorium from its daughter products radium and actinium. In this system, the “actinium generator” is a quantity of solid thorium peroxide stored under a cover solution. The thorium peroxide is stored as a suspension to allow for the buildup of the decay products radium and actinium in the suspension. The suspension is then treated with a peroxide solution and the solid and liquid phases are separated. The thorium remains in the solid peroxide form while the soluble actinium and radium are removed with the liquid phase in a rinsing step. After rinsing, an amount of the rinsing solution is retained with the thorium peroxide solid as a fresh cover solution to form another suspension for storage. This new suspension is then stored to allow actinium and radium to again build up in the suspension for a subsequent separation cycle.

Provided herein are methods of isolating and using radioactive mercury. In particular, provided herein are methods of isolating radioactive mercury including the use of a thiacrown ether, and using the isolated radioactive mercury in therapeutic and/or imaging applications.

Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of systems for producing radioisotopes and improving the specific activity of radioisotopes (e.g., Cu-64 chloride). As described herein, the system includes a target material area or target material shape that matches the proton beam strike area or proton beam strike shape, resulting in optimal thickness with less target material required.

An apparatus including a heating element and a sublimation vessel disposed adjacent the heating element such that the heating element heats a portion thereof. A collection vessel is removably disposed within the sublimation vessel and is open on an end thereof. A crucible is configured to sealingly position a solid mixture against the collection vessel.

Compositions comprising high levels of high specific activity copper-64, and process for preparing said compositions. The compositions comprise from about 2 Ci to about 15 Ci of copper-64 and have specific activities up to about 3800 mCi copper-64 per microgram of copper. The processes for preparing said compositions comprise bombarding a nickel-64 target with a low energy, high current proton beam, and purifying the copper-64 from other metals by a process comprising ion exchange chromatography or a process comprising a combination of extraction chromatography and ion exchange chromatography.

An apparatus for producing Pb-212. The apparatus comprises an emanation box that comprises an emanation source comprising a porous non-reactive material. The emanation box receives at least one of Th-228 and Ra-224, wherein the at least one of Th-228 and Ra-224 decays to Rn-220 within the emanation box. The apparatus further includes a carrier gas feed coupled to the emanation box. The carrier gas feed directs an inert gas into the emanation box and the inert gas carries the Rn-220 out of the emanation box through a carrier gas exit port of the emanation box. The apparatus also includes one or more Rn-220 targets coupled to the carrier gas exit port. The carrier gas carries the Rn-220 from the emanation box to the one or more Rn-220 targets and the Rn-220 decays into Pb-212 within the one or more Rn-220 targets. The Pb-212 is directed into the Pb-212 collection container.

The present invention is directed to processes for ionizing one or more lanthanide isotopes, processes for separating lanthanide isotopes, various apparatus and systems useful for these processes, and compositions prepared from these processes.