Production and chemical separation of 48V

Vanadium-48 was produced with an activity of 222 MBq (6 mCi) by the natTi(d,xn)48V nuclear reactions in the U-120 cyclotron. The energy of the irradiating beam was 13 MeV, its intensity 5 μA, and the metallic Ti target dimension 11’11 mm2 (0.1 mm thickness). For target cooling, circulated water in target backside was used. After 3 cooling days, only 48V and some 46Sc (T1/2 = 83.8 d), produced by the side nuclear reaction 48Ti(d,α)46Sc were found in the target. For production of the radiotracer of 48V and for the preparation of source for standardization of 48V by 4πβ-γ coincidence, the Ti target was dissolved either in HF or in H2SO4. For both dissolving methods an ion-exchange separation procedure was developed.