Methods for producing radionuclides

A method for producing a radioactive isotope, comprising:

• irradiating a natural tungsten target material comprising one or more of 180W, 182W, 183W, 184W, and 186W with a bremsstrahlung photon end-point energy of from about 22 MeV to about 26 MeV to produce 185Ta;
• dissolving the irradiated natural tungsten target material comprising the produced 185Ta in one or more mineral acids to form an acidic solution comprising the 180W, 182W, 183W, 184W, and 186W and the 185Ta;
• and
• separating the 185Ta from the 180W, 182W, 183W, 184W, and 186W irradiated within less than or equal to about 30 minutes after the irradiating;
• and
• recovering a no carrier added 185Ta radioisotope preparation with a specific activity of greater than 97%.

A method for producing a radioactive isotope, comprising:

• irradiating a tungsten target material exhibiting an elemental purity of about 99.95% with a bremsstrahlung photon end-point energy of about 22 MeV to produce 185Ta, 184Ta, 183Ta, or a combination thereof;
• dissolving the produced 185Ta, 184Ta, 183Ta, or the combination thereof and the irradiated tungsten target material in nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid to form an acidic solution containing the 185Ta, 184Ta, 183Ta, or combination thereof and the tungsten target material;
• and
• separating the produced 185Ta, 184Ta, and 183Ta from the tungsten target material;
• and
• recovering a no carrier added 185Ta radioisotope preparation with a specific activity of greater than 97%.