Electrochemical concentration of no-carrier-added [18F]fluoride from [18O]water in a disposable microfluidic cell for radiosynthesis of 18F-labeled radiopharmaceuticals

The realization of the electrochemical method for microfluidic radiosynthesis is described for concentrating aqueous no-carrier-added [18F]fluoride into an aprotic solvent in a disposable microfluidic cell. Flowing aqueous [18F]fluoride was introduced into a disposable microfluidic cell (16 μL) under an electric potential (10 V), followed by anhydrous MeCN. The trapped [18F]fluoride was released in MeCN containing Kryptofix® 222–KHCO3 (ca. 60 μL) under heat and a reversed potential (−2.5 V). An automated module provided the [18F]fluoride ready for subsequent microfluidic radiosynthesis in overall radiochemical yields of 60% within 6 min.