[The development of the apparatus for the fully automated synthesis of short-lived radiopharmaceutical. --13NH3 automated automated synthesis (author's transl)].

A fully automated apparatus for repeated production of 13NH3 from proton-bombarded water has been developed. Its operation sequence consists of the introduction of NaOH, the bombarded water containing 13NO3- and TiCl3 into a reaction vessel, the distillation of 13NH3 formed by the reduction of the 13NO3-, and the washing of the vessel for the next sequence. The NaOH and TiCl3 are added as 4 ml of saturated solution and 4 ml of 10% aqueous solution, respectively, and halogen lamps are used as the heat source for the distillation. By this apparatus, 13NH3 can be produced automatically and repeatedly in a radiochemical yield of 80-90% within 10 min from the EOB.