Metal technetium target and target chemistry for the production of 97Ru via the 99Tc(p,3n) 97Ru reaction

Abstract Radionuclidic pure 97 Ru ( t 1 2 = 2.9 days ) was produced by a (p,3n) reaction on 99 Tc, using the internal radiation facility of the JINR phasotron. The conditions of the irradiation, target construction, thick-target yield and radiochemical separation of 97 Ru from Tc target material were searched. The 97 Ru yield really obtained during 1 h irradiation of Tc met (2.8–3.0 g/cm 2 ; 1.0–1.2 g) with a proton beam of energy 50 MeV and intensity 8 μA was equal to 45–50 mCi/h. The radiochemical separation of ultramicroamounts of ruthenium and macroamounts of technetium is based on RuO 4 distillation from HNO 3 or H 2 SO 4 solutions at 90°C with air flow. The chemical yield of 97 Ru is not less than 95%, the decontamination factor is more 10 4 , the duration of chemical operation is 6–7 h.