Removal of Metal Impurities from 90YCl3 Solution with Strongly Basic Anion Exchange Resin

The 90YCl3 solution for medical use is generally extracted from the 90Sr/90Y radioactive decay equilibrium system. The 90Y solution obtained from 90Sr/90Y has no carrier, but contains a certain amount of metal impurity. A further purification by using of the concentration of hydrochloric acid is needed before it used for the preparation of 90Y radiopharmaceuticals. The adsorption behavior of Y3+, Fe3+, Al3+, Zn2+ and Mg2+ on AE4 strongly basic anion exchange was studied. AE4 have no adsorbability for Al3+, Zn2+ and Mg2+ in HCl solution. Fe3+ was strongly adsorbed by AE4 in hydrochloric acid solution when the concentration above 3 mol/L, and Y3+ was also adsorbed by AE4 in hydrochloric acid solution when the concentration above 7 mol/L. By adjusting the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the solution, Y3+, Fe3+, Al3+, Zn2+, Mg2+ in hydrochloric acid solution can quantitatively passing the solution successively through the first AE4 column where Fe3+ is separated and the second AE4 column where Y3+ is adsorbed. Finally, a purified YCl3 solution can be obtained by using 0.01 mol/L HCl elutes. The result of both the stable nuclide and 90Y tracer shows that AE4 resin can be used to remove the main impurity metal elements such as Fe, Al, Zn and Mg in 90YCl3 solution.