Developing a Chromatographic Tc Generator Based on Mesoporous Alumina for Industrial Radiotracer Applications: A Potential New Generation Sorbent for Using Low-Specific-Activity Mo.

The commercial low-pressure column chromatographic Mo/Tc generator represents a reliable source of onsite, ready-to-use Tc for industrial applications. These generators use fission-produced Mo of high specific activity, posing serious production challenges and raising proliferation concerns. Therefore, many concepts are aimed at using low-specific-activity (LSA) Mo. Nonetheless, the main roadblock is the low sorption capacity of the used alumina (AlO). This study investigates the feasibility of using commercial alumina incorporated with LSA Mo to develop a useful Mo/Tc generator for industrial radiotracer applications. First, the adsorption profiles of some commercial alumina sorbents for LSA Mo were tested under different experimental conditions. Then, the potential materials to develop a Mo/Tc generator were selected and evaluated regarding elution yield of Tc and purity. Among the sorbents investigated in this study, mesoporous alumina (SA-517747) presented a unique sorption-elution profile. It demonstrated a high equilibrium and dynamic sorption capacity of 148 ± 8 and 108 ± 6 mg Mo/g. Furthermore, Tc was eluted with high yield and adequate chemical, radiochemical, and radionuclidic purity. Therefore, this approach provides an efficient and cost-effective way to supply onsite Tc for radiotracer applications independent of fission-produced Mo technology.