title: Production of chemically pure gaseous [13N]NH3 pulses for PEP studies using a modified DeVarda reduction.
abstract: A fast and reproducible production method for pure gaseous [13N]NH3 pulses has been developed. 13N was produced by irradiation of water with 500 nA of 16 MeV protons via the 16O(p,alpha)13N reaction. A mixture of DeVarda's alloy and NaOH was used to convert the produced nitrate/nitrite to ammonia. Pre-treatment of this mixture with water increased the concentrated production of gaseous [13N]NH3. Separation and further purification of ammonia were performed with GC, leading to 5s pulses (1.1 ml STP) with 3.5 +/- 0.5 MBq [13N]NH3 with a high chemical and radiochemical purity suited for positron emission profiling (PEP).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Schuit Institute of Catalysis, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands. d.p.sobczyk@tue.nl
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sobczy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Grondelle
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: M J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Voigt
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: van Santen