Cyclotron production of PET radionuclides: No-carrier-added fluorine-18 (109.77 min; β + 96.9%; EC 3.1%) with high-energy protons on sodium targets

The production of no-carrier-added (NCA) ¹⁸F from reactions induced by high-energy protons on Na-containing targets was studied. Single (mCi/μAh) and cumulative yields (mCi/μAh) for ¹⁸F were measured in the 67.5–20 MeV proton energy range. Total cross sections (mbarns) were then calculated from the experimental radionuclide yields. Preliminary results of a radiochemical process to separate and purify NCA ¹⁸F from Na targets are also reported and evaluated. The production of ¹⁸F from Na is compared with other existing techniques as well as with other high-energy proton-induced reactions on solid targets (Al, Mg) reported previously. Other radionuclides (i.e. ²⁴Na, ²²Na, ⁷Be and ^34mCl) were also produced with protons on NaCl and Na₂CO₃ targets. The effects of these radiocontaminants is also discussed. Finally, a comparison is made for the ²³Na(p,x) excitation function, measured experimentally and calculated using the ALICE82 nuclear reaction code.