Table 4.
Details of target materials used in production of various positron emitting radionuclides
| Positron emitter | Reaction | Target material used | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15O | 14N (d,n)15O | Nitrogen gas | Most widely used reaction |
| 13N | 15N (p,n)15O or | Enriched 15N target | Expensive target material difficult to recycle |
| 16O (N,ρ)13N or | Natural water | ||
| 12C (d,n)13N | CO2, CH4, Carbon slurry, solid graphite | Most widely used reaction | |
| Only BN production method at low energies | |||
| 11C | 14N (p,ρ)11C or | Nitrogen gas | Most widely used reaction |
| 10B (d,n)11C | B2O3 | Only 11C production method used in 1966 | |
| 18F | 18O (p,n)18F or | 18O - enriched water | Recycling methods available |
| 20Ne (d,a)18F | Ne containing trace of F2 | ||
| 18F formed at low specific activity |