Production of ⁹²Y via the ⁹²Zr(n,p) reaction using the C(d,n) accelerator neutron source

¹ Department of Advanced Energy Engineering Science, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
² Tohoku University, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, 6-3Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan

^a e-mail: kin@aees.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Published online: 13 September 2017

Abstract

We have proposed a new method of producing medical radioisotope ⁹²Y as a candidate of alternatives of ¹¹¹In bioscan prior to ⁹⁰Y ibritumomab tiuxetan treatment. The ⁹²Y isotope is produced via the ⁹²Zr (n,p) reaction using accelerator neutrons generated by the interaction of deuteron beams with carbon. A feasibility experiment was performed at Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University. A carbon thick target was irradiated by 20-MeV deuterons to produce accelerator neutrons. The thick target neutron yield (TTNY) was measured by using the multiple foils activation method. The foils were made of Al, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Zr, Nb, and Au. The production amount of ⁹²Y and induced impurities were estimated by simulation with the measured TTNY and the JENDL-4.0 nuclear data.