Evaluation of two methods for concentrating perrhenate (188Re) eluates obtained from 188W–188Re generator

Two novel and simple methods for post-elution concentration (PEC) of 188Re-perrhenate, using (i) a single diethyl amino ethyl (DEAE) cellulose anion exchanger column and (ii) a combination of Dowex-1×8 and AgCl columns, are described here. In the first system, 20–25 ml of 188Re-perrhenate in acidic ammonium acetate was trapped in the small anion exchanger column of DEAE cellulose which was subsequently recovered in 4 ml of normal saline. In the second method, 188Re-perrhenate eluate in 20–40 ml normal saline was trapped on a small strong base anion exchanger column, Dowex-1×8, and recovered in 5 ml of 0.2 M NaI solution and finally processed over 1 g AgCl column so as to obtain it in physiological saline solution in a final volume of 6.5 ml including 1.5 ml de-ionized water washings. In both the methods, the radiochemical purity of 188Re-perrhenate was >98% and 188W breakthrough was less than 10−3%.