EVALUATION AND APPLICATION OF ALUMINA-BASED RB-82 GENERATORS CHARGED WITH HIGH-LEVELS OF SR-82-85

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 20  (9) , 961-966
Abstract
Generator-produced 82Rb, a 75 s positron emitter with potential for myocardial blood-flow imaging, was studied with various ion-exchange columns to evaluate the characteristics of alumina as an adsorber for the 25 day 82Sr parent. Test columns of alumina, Bio Rex 70, and Chelex 100 were loaded with multimillicurie amounts of no-carrier-added 82Sr/85Sr (85Sr is a production contaminant). The breakthrough of 82Sr/85Sr, and the yield of 82Rb, were determined for long-term elutions from each column with up to 4 l of 2% NaCl solution at pH 8-9. The breakthrough of 82Sr/85Sr was 10-6-10-5 from alumina and 10-6-10-4 from Chelex 100 and Bio Rex 70. The effects of eluent flow rate and concentration, and of alumina volume, on the breakthrough and yield were also studied. An improved and automated 82Rb generator was used. It was equipped with solenoid flow-control valves and 5" of Pb shielding for the alumina columns, which were charged with 25-50 mCi 82Sr (100-150 mCi 85Sr). The 82Rb generator with alumina column provided up to 20-40 mCi of 82Rb as often as every 5-10 min with < 10-5 breakthrough of 182Sr/85Sr over the 2-3 mo., useful life of the generator.