Systems and methods for the cyclotron production of iodine-124
The present invention relates to targets, systems and methods for the cyclotron production of 124 I from aluminum telluride (Al 2 Te 3 ) targets. The systems and methods utilize low energy proton cyclotrons to produce 124 I by the 124 Te(p,n) reaction from enriched Al 2 Te 3 glassy melts. The 124 I is recovered in high yield from the glassy melt by adapted methods of common thermal distillation techniques.
1. A method of generating 124 I comprising irradiating a target material comprising 124 Te-enriched aluminum telluride with protons of an energy of at least about 11 MeV and releasing 124 I from the target material, wherein the target material comprises the 124 Te-enriched aluminum telluride prior to the step of irradiating.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the target material is irradiated with protons of an energy from about 11 MeV to about 18 MeV.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the 124 I is distilled from the target material.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein a distillation temperature ranges from about 750° C. to about 900° C.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein a distillation temperature ranges from about 900° C. to about 1000° C.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the distilled 124 I is carried away from the target material by a noble gas flowing over the target material.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the distilled 124 I is carried away from the target material by air flowing over the target material.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the method provides at least 80% release of 124 I from the target material.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the method provides at least 90% release of 124 I from the target material.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the method provides at least 95% release of 124 I from the target material.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the tellurium in the target material comprises at least about 95 atomic % 124 Te.
12. A method of generating 124 I comprising irradiating a target material comprising 124 Te-enriched aluminum telluride with protons of an energy sufficient to generate 124 I via the 124 Te(p,n) 124 I reaction and releasing 124 I from the target material, wherein the target material comprises the 124 Te-enriched aluminum telluride prior to the step of irradiating.