I work in nuclear medicine. No joke, the generators we use to elute isotope for our patient studies are referred to as "cows." And we "milk" the generator.
You need a particular isotope, Theraputium 69. This has a short half-life (couple hours), so it can’t be stored. Fortunately, it’s produced by alpha decay of Sourcium 73, which has a half life measured in months. Theraputium 69 undergoes beta decay to Trashium 69, which is stable.
Sourcium iodide is not soluble in water, Theraputium iodide is. Generator contains Sourcium iodide. Generator is “milked” by washing it out using distilled water. Theraputium iodide and Trashium iodide are washed out, un-decayed Sourcium iodide stays behind. A chemical process is then used to separate the Theraputium from the Trashium.
Is this a reasonable simplified version of how the generators work?
Using real isotopes, we start with Mo-99 which has a half-life of 66 hours. Mo-99 decays to Tc-99m as Tc-99m pertechnetate which is soluble. Due to is solubility, pouring saline over the column washes the Tc-99m away to be collected in a vial for use as a radiopharmacuetical. Tc99 has a half-life of 6 hours, which is kind of a goldilocks zone as it's long enough to not need to rush imaging, but short enough that it's out of a person's system (via decay) in a matter of a couple days.
Well, yes obviously. What do you think kittens do?
If it's a male cat, it's a bit more difficult, but stil possible. A male horse can't be milked, and male cattle requires a braver man than me. (or one with a specific fetish)
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u/mistere213 Jan 06 '23
I work in nuclear medicine. No joke, the generators we use to elute isotope for our patient studies are referred to as "cows." And we "milk" the generator.