Evaluation of 186 WS 2 target material for production of high specific activity 186 Re via proton irradiation: separation, radiolabeling and recovery/recycling
Enriched tungsten disulfide ( 186 WS 2 ) was evaluated at increasing proton beam currents (20-50 µA) and times (up to 4 h) on a GE PETtrace cyclotron for production of high specific activity (HSA) 186 Re. The HSA 186 Re was separated from the irradiated target as [ 186 Re][ReO 4 ] - by a liquid-liquid extraction method and radiolabeled with a new N 2 S 2 ligand (222-MAMA-N-ethylpropionate). The enriched 186 W was recovered from the extraction process, analyzed for purity and enrichment, and converted back to the disulfide ( 186 WS 2 ). The results demonstrate that the 186 WS 2 is an easily pressed target material that can withstand relatively high currents and can be readily recovered and recycled. The 186 Re produced was isolated in high specific activity and readily formed the radiotracers [ 186 Re][ReO(222-MAMA-N ethylpropionate)] and [ 186 Re][Re(CO) 3 (OH 2 ) 3 ] + .