C-11 cyanide production system

A system for producing H11CN gas from 11C-labeled oxides in less than nine (9) minutes, the system comprising:

• a 11CO2 inlet conduit for receiving and conveying 11CO2 gas from a target;
• a H2 inlet conduit for receiving and conveying H2 gas from a source;
• a N2 inlet conduit for receiving and conveying N2 gas from a source;
• a heated nickel furnace, said furnace having an entrance and an exit and arranged with a first subzone and a second subzone of substantially all nickel catalyst powder, wherein the first subzone is arranged at said entrance of said heated zone and the second such subzone is arranged at said exit of said heated zone, wherein said first and second subzones sandwich a third subzone which houses a mixture of nickel (Ni) catalyst powder and a molecular sieve, fluidly connected with said 11CO2 inlet, said H2 inlet and said N2 inlet for receiving the 11CO2 gas, the H2 gas and the N2 gas respectively therefrom, and for heating the 11CO2 gas, the H2 gas and the N2 gas in the presence of a nickel catalyst contained within said nickel furnace to produce 11CH4 gas;
• a 11CH4 conduit connected to an outlet of said nickel furnace for receiving and conveying the 11CH4 gas from said nickel furnace;
• a NH3 inlet conduit for receiving and conveying NH3 gas from a source;
• a platinum furnace fluidly connected with said 11CH4 conduit and said NH3 inlet conduit for receiving the 11CH4 gas and the NH3 gas respectively therefrom and for heating the 11CH4 gas and the NH3 gas in the presence of a platinum catalyst contained within said platinum furnace to produce H11CN gas;
• and
• a H11CN outlet conduit fluidly connected to an outlet of said platinum furnace for receiving and conveying the H11CN gas from said platinum furnace,
• wherein said 11CO2 inlet conduit, said H2 inlet conduit, said N2 inlet conduit, said nickel furnace, said 11CH4 conduit, said NH3 inlet conduit, said platinum furnace and said H11CN outlet conduit collectively define a total system gaseous volume of about less than 18 mL whereby the system provides a total system cycle time for producing H11CN gas of less than nine (9) minutes.