Large scale production of 64Cu and 67Cu via the 64Zn(n, p)64Cu and 68Zn(n, np/d)67Cu reactions using accelerator neutrons

Both 64Cu and 67Cu are promising radionuclides in nuclear medicine. Production yields of these radionuclides were quantified by irradiating 55.4 g of natural zinc with accelerator neutrons. Clinically suitable 64Cu and 67Cu yields were estimated by experimental based numerical simulations using 100 g of enriched 64Zn and 68Zn, respectively, and elevated neutron fluxes from 40 MeV, 2 mA deuterons. A combined thermal- and resin-separation method was developed to isolate 64Cu and 67Cu from zinc, resulting in 73% separation efficiency and 97% zinc recovery. Such methods can provide large scale production of 64Cu and 67Cu for clinical applications.