DETERMINATION OF TRACE AMOUNTS OF COPPER AND IMPURITIES IN RADIOACTIVE ~(64)Cu PRODUCTS BY ION CHROMATOGRAPHY

Ion chromatography was applied to establish a quick and reliable procedure for copper analysis at less than 10~(-6)level for the determination of the specific activity of ~(64)Cu products prepared by Szilard Chalmers process of Cu-phthalocyanine. The ion chromatographic system consisted of a low capacity cation-exchange column,postcolumn-reaction system, a spectrophotometric detector and a data processor. Eluted Cu (Ⅱ)was detected by measuring the absorbance of Cu-2-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol complex at 520 nm. The optimum condition for the separation of Cu(Ⅱ)from five transition metal ion; Fe(Ⅱ,Ⅲ), Ni(Ⅱ),Zn(Ⅱ),Co(Ⅱ)and Pb(Ⅱ), was examined using two types of eluents; (1) a mixture of 6 mmol 2-pyridine-5-dicarboxylic acid(PDCA), 50 mmol sodium acetate and 50 mmol acetic acid solutions,and (2) 50 mmol oxalic acid solution. A separation coefficient for Cu(Ⅱ)to Ni (Ⅱ)was used to select a suitable eluent for the separation of Cu(Ⅱ). Effects of the flow rate and pH of eluent, concentration of PAR, and the wavelength used for measuring absorbance of Cu-PAR complex on the peak area were examined. The best condition determined was: eluent:mixture of 6 mmol PDCA, 50 mmol acetic acid, and 50 mmol sodium acetate; pH: 4.81; flow rate: 1 ml/min wavelength: 520 nm. Analysis of standard samples containing Cu(Ⅱ)and other metal ions showed that this method is precise, accurate and rapid for the determination of Cu (Ⅱ). The specific activities of ~(64)Cu products determined by using the present method and by conventional spectrophotometric method were compared.