Chemical,radiochemical, and radionuclide purity of eluates from different commercial fission99Mo/99mTc generators

Seven⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators (using fission⁹⁹Mo) obtained from seven different manufactures were studied in 1984 and 1985 to test the quality of the eluates. We present the findings concerning the elution efficiency, radionuclide purity,⁹⁹Mo breakthrough, radiochemical purity, pH, and aluminium content of the eluates. One generator was overloaded with⁹⁹Mo by about 40%, while one generator had^99mTc yields of only about 80%. The eluates generally (although with some exceptions) exhibited a high and satisfactory radionuclidic purity and good radiochemical purity. The low-level determination of⁹⁹Mo break-through using a commercially available dose calibrator with a⁹⁹Mo assay shiled indicated a misleadingly high⁹⁹Mo content. All of the eluates had pH values of between 5.0 and 5.5, and the aluminium content was always below the detection limit of 1 g per milliliter of eluate. The generators performed well and proved their capability of functioning as reliable sources of sodium pertechnetate Tc99m. In all cases, the pertechnetate produced met the requirements of the European Pharmacopeia.This report is based on work conducted within the scope of a research poject devised by the Ministry of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany (Hammermaier et al. 1985). The present report reflects the opinions of the authors and does not necessarily express the views of the Federal Ministry of the Interior