ANHYDROUS F-18 LABELED ELEMENTAL FLUORINE FOR RADIOPHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 21  (8) , 750-757
Abstract
Interest in 18F as a label in radiopharmacology prompted the development of a method for the production of dCi of anhydrous 18F-F2 using the 20Ne(d,.alpha.)18F reaction. The amount of anhydrous 18F-F2 removed from the target is a function of target pressure and carrier concentration increasing with rising target pressure and decreasing with decreasing carrier concentration. At a target pressure of 24 atm and a carrier concentration of 0.1% F2, nearly 95% of the theoretical yield of 18F produced can be removed and up to 85% delivered through a 10 m stainless steel tube to the reaction chamber. Other functions affecting yield, including target design, target-gas handling and purity, were addressed. Thick target yields for 14.0 and 9.4 MeV deuterons on target were 82 and 67 mCl/.mu.A at saturation. With the BNL [Brookhaven National Lab] 60 in. cyclotron, production of 600-800 mCl of 18F-F2 with a specific activity of .apprx. 10 mCi/.mu.mol is possible.