A new binary compound for the production of 124I via the 124Te(p,n)124I reaction

The binary compound, aluminum telluride (Al2Te3), was investigated as a target material for the production of 124I by way of the 124Te(p,n)124I reaction on a low-energy cyclotron. The high melting point and formation of a glassy matrix upon heating provided a stable target material at irradiations up to 20 μA of 11 MeV protons. The 87% tellurium mass fraction and 95% iodine separation yield led to significantly higher quantities of iodine compared to traditional TeO2/6%Al2O3 admixtures. Radiochemical analysis of distilled samples using ion chromatography showed that the product remained in the iodide form while supported in weak buffer solutions. Stable Te impurities in the radioiodine product were less than 0.5 μg following purification by ion exchange chromatography. Average thick target yields of 229±18 μCi/μA h were achieved, and typical production runs at 18 μA for three hours yielded 12 mCi at the end-of-bombardment. Total losses of the target material after each irradiation and distillation cycle were approximately 2%.