Indexed on: 01 Mar '03Published on: 01 Mar '03Published in: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
No-carrier-added 177Lu was produced by the 176Yb(n,γ)177Yb→177Lu process using enriched 176Yb2O3. The radiochemical separation of the nca 177Lu from the macroscopic ytterbium target was investigated by reversed-phase ion-pair HPLC. Effects of the concentrations of 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid and 1-octanesulfonate in the eluent, the amount of Yb2O3, the type and length of the C18 column on the separation efficiency were examined. Under optimum conditions, the nca 177Lu was obtained in radiochemically pure form from 5 mg of Yb2O3 with a separation yield of 84%.