Is (70)Zn(d,x)(67)Cu the Best Way to Produce (67)Cu for Medical Applications?

The pair of copper radionuclides (64)Cu/(67)Cu (T(1/2) = 12. 7 h/61.8 h) allows, respectively, PET imaging and targeted beta therapy. An analysis of the different production routes of (67)Cu with charged particles was performed and the reaction (70)Zn(d,x) route was identified as a promising one. It may allow the production of (67)Cu without (64)Cu. The production cross section has been measured up to 28.7 MeV. Measurements were done using the well-known stacked-foils technique using 97.5% enriched (70)Zn homemade electroplated targets. These measurements complement at higher incident energies the only set of data available in nuclear databases. The results show that using a 26 MeV deuteron beam and a highly enriched (70)Zn target, it is possible to produce high purity (67)Cu comparable to that obtained using photoproduction. This production route can be of interest for future linear accelerators under development where mA deuteron beams can be available if adequate targetry is developed.