Improved chemistry for the production of yttrium-90 for medical applications

A novel extraction chromatographic method for the preparation of ⁹⁰Y of high chemical and radiochemical purity has been developed. After an initial purification of a ⁹⁰Sr stock solution and a suitable period of ⁹⁰Y ingrowth, the solution is passed through a series of strontium-selective chromatographic columns, each of which lowers the ⁹⁰Sr content of the mixture by a factor of ∼ 10³. The ⁹⁰Y remaining is freed from any residual ⁹⁰Sr, from its ⁹⁰Zr daughter, and from any remaining impurities by passing the sample through a final column designed to selectively retain yttrium.