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The need for readily available sources of high-purity radionuclides has increased due to the continued development of nuclear medicine applications. In this article, selected f-element metal ions, Y(III), and Sc(III) were studied to identify methods for their recovery in a small volume of acetate buffer from chromatographic stationary phases. The recoveries of high specific activity 44Sc, 90Y, 139Ce/147Pm/152Eu (representative lanthanides), 225Ac, and 227Th in 1 M ammonium acetate from strong cation exchange silica (SCX) and extraction chromatography resins containing diglycolamide (DGA) or dioxaoctane diamide (DOODA) extractants were explored. Ac(III), Y(III), and the trivalent lanthanides were efficiently recovered from SCX in acetate buffer, while the higher ionic potential Sc(III) and Th(IV) remained trapped on the stationary phase. DOODA resin allowed for the complete recovery of all radiotracers in acetate buffer but was more prone to metal breakthrough during column loading. Elution of radiotracers on DGA resins varied and was strongly influenced by the presence of acidic impurities in the extractant. Efforts to improve metal recovery from DGA resins by increasing extractant purity or through masking of the impurities via complexation with a neutral phosphorus extractant were explored.
Eddy et al. (Fri,) studied this question.