Patent ID: 9312037
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: B01D,G21G,G21K,H05H

Claim Text:
1. A method for producing Cu67 radioisotope comprising irradiating a metallic Zn68 target ingot, contained within a sealed capsule and in intimate contact therewith, with a high energy gamma ray beam to convert at least a portion of the Zn68 to Cu67, and then isolating Cu67 from the irradiated target; wherein the capsule is composed of alumina; and the Zn68 is substantially free of traces of residual oxygen that interfere with contact of the Zn68 to the capsule, and wherein isolating Cu67 comprises subliming away zinc from the irradiated target ingot at an elevated temperature onto a sublimation tube to leave substantially zinc-free metallic residue containing Cu67 in the capsule, wherein the sublimation tube is composed of alumina, and further comprising recovering the sublimed Zn68 from the sublimation tube by inverting the sublimation tube containing the sublimed Zn68 over a graphite hopper containing a substantially empty alumina capsule; placing the inverted sublimation tube and hopper containing the substantially empty capsule inside a hermetic surround with an inert gas fill; and heating at least a portion of the hermetic surround so that the Zn68 melts and is directed into the empty capsule.