Chromatographic separation of carrier free 90Y from 90Sr using a diglycolamide based resin for possible pharmaceutical applications

N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) has been used as the stationary phase in an extraction chromatography resin (XCR) material prepared for evaluating the uptake and the separation behaviour of 90Y and 90Sr from acidic feeds. Chromosorb-W was used as the solid support material while the feed solution was usually 4 M HNO3. The batch uptake studies have suggested almost no Sr(II) uptake while Y(III) uptake increased with acidity up to 4 M HNO3 beyond which a decrease in the Kd,w values were observed. Column studies were carried out and breakthrough profiles were obtained for both Y(III) and Sr(II). No breakthrough of Y(III) was noticed even when >50 column volumes of the feed (carrier free 90Y at 4 M HNO3) was passed through the column while about 20 column volumes were required for the breakthrough of Y(III) when the feed contained 1 g/L Y in 4 M HNO3 spiked with 90Y tracer. The reusability of the column was also studied which indicated in the deterioration of the column performance as shown by the sharp fall in the breakthrough volumes and was attributed to the probable leaching of the reagent from the support material. The role of absorbed dose was also investigated for Y(III) uptake. Separation of carrier free 90Y tracer was carried out by loading the column with 90Sr and eluting with 0.01 M solutions of HNO3 as well as EDTA. The purity of the product was ascertained by half-life method.