Abstract
A procedure for the separation of Cu-64,Cu-67 radioisotopes from irradiated natural zinc targets was developed. Production of Cu-64,Cu-67 was carried out using Zn-64,Zn-67(n,p) Cu-64,Cu-67 reactions by fast neutron bombardment of natural zinc targets at The Second Egyptian Research Reactor (ETRR-2). The sorption behavior of Zn-65 and Cu-64,Cu-67 ions in HCl acid solutions showed high affinity of Cu ions towards 6-tungstocerate(IV) gel matrix compared with Zn ions. Carrier-free Cu-64,Cu-67 radionuclides were separated from Zn-65 on 6-tungstocerate(IV) column matrix by eluting the column with 10 ml 0.001 and 1M HCl acid solutions. The separated Cu-64,Cu-67 radionuclides were of high chemical, radiochemical and radionuclidic purity.