A modified electrochemical procedure for isolating 177Lu radionuclide

A cell for isolating 177Lu from a neutron-irradiated 176Yb target was developed. The procedure involves a combination of two processes: contact reduction of Yb from acetate–chloride solution on sodium amalgam, followed by electrolysis of the solution on a mercury cathode. The process conditions were chosen so that the adjustment of the working solution characteristics (composition, pH, etc.) in going from contact reduction to electrolysis was not required. Both processes are performed in one cell, which reduces the 177Lu loss. On an installation consisting of two cells, the decontamination factor of the 177Lu solution from Yb of up to 106 was reached, which is necessary for obtaining a 177Lu preparation of high specific activity.