Cyclotron production and radiochemical purification of 88,89Zr via α-particle induced reactions on natural strontium

The radionuclides 88Zr and 89Zr have been produced by cyclotron irradiation of natSrO with 35 MeV α-particles at a beam current of 15 μA. The thick source production yield of 89Zr is ~3.1 MBq μA−1 h−1. A two-step radiochemical purification utilising anion-exchange chromatography in hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids has been developed to separate 88,89Zr from the target material, natural strontium, the target substrate, aluminium, and long-lived 88Y.