Nano zirconium hydroxide gel as a sorbent material for 99Mo/99mTc radioisotope generator
摘要
Sorption of Mo(VI) from aqueous solutions onto nano zirconium hydroxide gels was studied using 99Mo radiotracer. The acid–base titration curves showed that the prepared nano Zr(OH)4 gels, Gel #1 and Gel #2, were amphoteric materials with points of zero charge (PZC’s) at pH 2.8 and 3.3, respectively. The highest distribution coefficients of molybdate(VI)-99Mo between both gels (Gel #1 and Gel #2) and Cl− media were achieved at pH 2. The maximum sorption capacities of Gel #1 and Gel #2 were found to be 165.7 ± 7.5 and 195.4 ± 8.1 mg Mo/g, respectively. The prepared 99Mo/99mTc chromatographic column generator based on Gel #2 (achieving the higher Mo capacity) showed a good performance; the 99mTc elution yield was 82.7 ± 2.0%, pH of the eluate ranged from 5 to 6.8, and 99Mo breakthrough in the eluted 99mTc was 0.005 ± 0.002% with a radiochemical purity of 97.3 ± 0.9% (as 99mTcO4−).