Thin-target excitation functions and optimization of simultaneous production of NCA copper-64 and gallium-66,67 by deuteron induced nuclear reactions on a natural zinc target

Copper-64 is a radionuclide suitable for labeling of a wide range of radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging, as well as systemic or local radioimmunotherapy of tumors. Among the possible methods for cyclotron production of No Carrier Added (NCA) Cu-64 (Cu-61), we investigated the deuteron irradiation on natural Zn target, via (d,alpha xn) and (d,2pxn) nuclear reactions. This paper reports the preliminary results about the experimental determination and theoretical calculation of thin-target excitation functions in the energy range up to 19 MeV for Cu-61, Cu-64, Ga-66, Ga-67, Zn-65 and Zn-69m. A fast selective radiochemical separation of NCA Cu-64 from Zn target and Ga radionuclides, with quality control tests is described too.