Production and purification parameters for ⁶⁰Cu, ⁶¹Cu and ⁶⁴Cu.

Radioisotope		60Cu, 61Cu, 64Cu
Target material		Natural and enriched nickel (all), natural and enriched zinc (for 61Cu only)
Product purity	60Cu	∼98.8 to ∼99.9%
Major impurities		61Cu, 55Co, 57Co
Product purity	61Cu	∼99.6% for 61Ni(p,n)61Cu nuclear reaction; >95% for 64Zn(p,α)61Cu nuclear reaction
Major impurities		58Co for 61Ni(p,n)61Cu nuclear reaction; 66Ga, 67Ga, 68Ga for 64Zn(p,α)61Cu nuclear reaction
Product purity	64Cu	∼95 to >99%
Major impurities		55Co, 56Co, 57Co, 58Co, 57Ni
Separation method	Ni	Anion exchange chromatography (AG 1-X8 resin)
		- Target dissolution: (a) HNO3 or (b) strong HCl
		- Ni target elution: (a) 0.2 N HCl in 96% methanol or (b) 6N HCl
		- Co impurity elution: (a) 0.3% HCl in 72% ethanol or (b) 4 N HCl
		- Copper elution: (a) 0.3 N HCl in 40% ethanol or (b) water
Product separation yield		95%
Target recovery yield		90%
Separation method	Zn	Ion exchange chromatography in series (AG 50W-X8 resin (cation) and AG 1-X8 resin (anion))
		- Target dissolution: 10 N HCl
		- (Cation exchange) Cu and Zn elution: 10 N HCl
		- (Anion exchange) Cu elution: 2 N HCl
		- (Anion exchange) Zn target elution: 0.5 N HCl
Product separation yield		—
Target recovery yield		90%