Indium-111 Separation

¹¹¹In, utilized in SPECT imaging, is produced by irradiation of cadmium targets. Following dissolution of the target with 6-8M HBr, In may be selectively extracted from large masses of Cd target material using a column of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol adsorbed on an inert polymeric support. The column is rinsed with 6M HBr to remove the Cd and In is stripped with 8M HCl through cartridges of strong base anion exchange and DGA resins. The anion exchange provides additional decontamination from Fe and Cd, while the DGA retains the In. Rinsing the DGA provides additional decontamination from Cu, and In is recovered in dilute HCl.