title: An overview of copper radionuclides and production of 61Cu by proton irradiation of (nat)Zn at a medical cyclotron.
abstract: In this article, production methods and applications of copper radionuclides are overviewed with special attention toward (61)Cu, due to its interesting nuclear properties. Selection of production parameters for (61)Cu including: appropriate nuclear reaction, proton beam energy, target thickness and targetry method are discussed for NRCAM 30MeV medical cyclotron. (64)Zn(p,alpha)(61)Cu was selected as the best reaction and (61)Cu was produced by 22MeV proton bombardment of a 80 microm thick natural zinc target. After 180microAh irradiation, the resultant activity of (61)Cu was 6.006Ci (12.015mCi/microAh). The chemical separation method was easy, quick and efficient (>95%) and yielded a no carrier added product with high chemical and radionuclidic purity (>99%). Detailed comparison with previous production methods confirms that our results are superior to other reports published to date.
authors.affiliation: Cyclotron and Nuclear Medicine Department, Nuclear Research Center for Agriculture and Medicine (NRCAM), Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, P.O. Box: 31485-498, Moazzen Blvd., Rajaeeshahr, Karaj, Iran. prowshanfarzad@nrcam.org
authors.forename: Pejman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rowshanfarzad
authors.forename: Mahsheed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabet
authors.forename: Amir Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jalilian
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamalidehghan
mesh_terms: D003301:Copper Radioisotopes / Q000737:chemistry*; D017357:Cyclotrons; D011522:Protons; D011876:Radionuclide Generators; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D003301:Copper Radioisotopes; D011522:Protons; D015032:Zinc