Patent
Methods of synthesizing 100 Mo 2 C and 99m TcO 4 − are disclosed. Methods of 100 Mo 2 C generation involve thermally carburizing 100 MoO 3 . Methods of 99m TcO 4 generation involve proton bombardment of 100 Mo 2 C in a cyclotron. Yields of 99m TcO 4 can be increased by sintering 100 Mo 2 C prior to bombardment. The methods also include recycling of 100 Mo 2 C to form 100 MoO 3 . SPECT images obtained using 99m TcO 4 generated by the disclosed methods are also presented.
1. A method of synthesizing pertechnetate ( 99 TcO 4 − ), the method comprising: synthesizing 100 MO 2 C by thermally carburizing 100 MoO 3 ; and bombarding the 100 Mo 2 C with protons in a cyclotron to yield 99 TcO 4 − .
2. A method of synthesizing pertechnetate ( 99m TcO 4 − ) in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising purifying the 99m TcO 4 − by thermo-chromatography.
3. A method of synthesizing pertechnetate ( 99 TcO 4 − ) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the thermally carburizing comprises:
(i) converting 100 MoO 3 to ammonium heptamolybdate tetrahydrate ((NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 .4H 2 O) with 28% NH 3 (aq), (ii) converting (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 .4H 2 O to a hexamethyltetramine (HMT)-molybdate complex ((NH 4 ) 4 (HMT) 2 Mo 7 O 24 .4H 2 O) by reacting the (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 .4H 2 O with NH 3 (aq) and HMT and (iii) heating the dried HMT-molybdate complex in argon atmosphere to yield 100 Mo 2 C.
4. A method of synthesizing 99m Tc pertechnetate in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bombarding the 100 Mo 2 C comprises bombarding the 100 Mo 2 C at a current of from about 1 μA, 1 μA up to 20 μA, or about 20 μA.
5. A method of synthesizing 99m Tc pertechnetate in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bombarding the 100 Mo 2 C comprises bombarding the 100 Mo 2 C for about 45 minutes, from 45 minutes to 2 hours, or for about 2 hours.
6. A method of synthesizing 99m Tc pertechnetate in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the bombarding the 100 Mo 2 C comprises bombarding the 100 Mo 2 C at a current of about 20 μA for about 2 hours.
7. A method of synthesizing 99m Tc pertechnetate in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising collecting the 99m Tc 4 − in NaOH.
8. A method of synthesizing 99m Tc pertechnetate in accordance with claim 2 , wherein the thermo-chromatography comprises:
(i) conditioning the column with acidified water, (ii) passing NaOH containing 99m TcO 4 − through an ion-exchange column and (iii) eluting the column with a saline solution.
9. A method of synthesizing 99m Tc pertechnetate in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the acidified water has a pH of about 2.
10. A method of synthesizing 99m Tc pertechnetate in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising recycling the 100 Mo 2 C to form 100 MoO 3 .
11. A method of synthesizing 99m Tc pertechnetate in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the recycling comprises:
(i) washing the 100 Mo 2 C with 28% NH 3 (aq); and
(ii) applying the solution from (i) to synthesis of (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 .4H 2 O.
12. A method of synthesizing pertechnetate ( 99m TcO 4 − ) in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to the bombarding, pressing the 100 Mo 2 C to form a compact powder; and
sintering the compact powder.
13. A method of synthesizing pertechnetate ( 99m TcO 4 − ) in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the sintering the compact powder comprises heating the compact powder under vacuum at about 600° C.