Monte Carlo prediction and experimental characterisation of long-lived waste byproducts arising from cyclotron production of zirconium-89 utilising a commercially available yttrium foil

Monte Carlo prediction and experimental characterisation of long-lived waste byproducts arising from cyclotron production of zirconium-89 utilising a commercially available yttrium foil | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Monte Carlo prediction and experimental characterisation of long-lived waste byproducts arising from cyclotron production of zirconium-89 utilising a commercially available yttrium foil Andrew Chacon, Sylvia Gong, Artur Cichocki, Talia Enright, Harris Panopoulos, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6704587/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine → Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Zirconium-89 is presently undergoing pre-clinical investigation for its potential application as a positron emission tomography (PET) theranostic radioisotope. A critical consideration in the increasing number of trials and eventual clinical implementations is a comprehensive understanding of the radioactive waste byproducts and their quantification. This study focuses on the investigation and characterisation of the waste isotopes generated during the production of Zirconium-89, employing a combination of Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation and experimental methodologies utilising commercially obtainable starting materials from Thermofisher. Post cyclotron production samples of waste were taken and measured using a high purity germanium detector. Subsequent spectrum analysis consistently revealed the presence of the following isotopes in units of kBq per GBq of Zirconium-89 produced: cobalt-56 (13 \((\pm)\) 2, 14 \((\pm)\) 2, 15 \((\pm)\) 1), cobalt-57 (0.087 \((\pm)\) 0.004 , 0.097 \((\pm)\) 0.004, 0.086 \((\pm)\) 0.007), rhenium-183 (2.61 \((\pm)\) 0.06, 3.29 \((\pm)\) 0.06, 2.47 \((\pm)\) 0.09), scandium-48 (27 \((\pm)\) 0.9, 21.1 \((\pm)\) 0.4), yttrium-88 (0.67 \((\pm)\) 0.06, 1.1 \((\pm)\) 0.4, 0.73 \((\pm)\) 0.06) and zirconium-88 (1.79 \((\pm)\) 0.04, 2.95 \((\pm)\) 0.05, 2.22 \((\pm)\) 0.07). All the waste isotopes were able to reasonably be estimated using Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations or the deviation was able to be justified. The repeatability and predictability of isotopes and activities will enable informed decision-making regarding storage and disposal procedures in accordance with local legislative requirements. PET Cyclotron Waste Zr89 Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Major revisions 09 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 May, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 26 May, 2025 Editor invited by journal 26 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 20 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 19 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6704587","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":462163051,"identity":"1f6d7461-3851-4e8d-b352-75dffd10ea13","order_by":0,"name":"Andrew Chacon","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABC0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACAySyAojZGRgYG4jXcoaBgYeZJC2MbURo4Z/dvO3DxzYGeXP2ww8fF86zSdzPzHzw4QwGOzndBuZnEli0SNw5VjxzZhuD4c6eNGPjmdvSEnuY2ZINNzAkG5sdYDPDpoXhRo4xM+82hgSDAzls0rzbDgO18JhJPmA4kLjtAANWLfIgLX9BWs6/AWqZg6KF/Rs2LQYgLYwgLTdAtjRAtWwAa+HBaovhjbRixt5/DIYbbjwzNuY5lmbccxjolxkGQL8c5im2wKJF7kbyZoYfZxjkDc4nP3zMU2Mj297efPBhT4WdnNnx9o03cIf1fwwHAzEzbvWjYBSMglEwCvADAGIDXkfq2Wj9AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3939-0862","institution":"Austin Health Victoria: Austin Health","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Andrew","middleName":"","lastName":"Chacon","suffix":""},{"id":462163052,"identity":"92d1d601-f0a8-42f1-86f9-e0b10d0dee7d","order_by":1,"name":"Sylvia Gong","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Austin Health Victoria: Austin 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prediction and experimental characterisation of long-lived waste byproducts arising from cyclotron production of zirconium-89 utilising a commercially available yttrium foil","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"physical-and-engineering-sciences-in-medicine","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"apes","sideBox":"Learn more about [Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine](http://link.springer.com/journal/13246)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/apes/default.aspx","title":"Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"PET, Cyclotron, Waste, Zr89","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6704587/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6704587/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eZirconium-89 is presently undergoing pre-clinical investigation for its potential application as a positron emission tomography (PET) theranostic radioisotope. A critical consideration in the increasing number of trials and eventual clinical implementations is a comprehensive understanding of the radioactive waste byproducts and their quantification. This study focuses on the investigation and characterisation of the waste isotopes generated during the production of Zirconium-89, employing a combination of Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation and experimental methodologies utilising commercially obtainable starting materials from Thermofisher. Post cyclotron production samples of waste were taken and measured using a high purity germanium detector. Subsequent spectrum analysis consistently revealed the presence of the following isotopes in units of kBq per GBq of Zirconium-89 produced: cobalt-56 (13 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 2, 14 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 2, 15 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 1), cobalt-57 (0.087 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.004 , 0.097 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.004, 0.086 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.007), rhenium-183 (2.61 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.06, 3.29 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.06, 2.47 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.09), scandium-48 (27 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.9, 21.1 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.4), yttrium-88 (0.67 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.06, 1.1 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.4, 0.73 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.06) and zirconium-88 (1.79 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.04, 2.95 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.05, 2.22 \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\((\\pm)\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.07). All the waste isotopes were able to reasonably be estimated using Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations or the deviation was able to be justified. The repeatability and predictability of isotopes and activities will enable informed decision-making regarding storage and disposal procedures in accordance with local legislative requirements. \u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Monte Carlo prediction and experimental characterisation of long-lived waste byproducts arising from cyclotron production of zirconium-89 utilising a commercially available yttrium foil","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-05-29 14:00:25","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6704587/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Major revisions","date":"2025-06-10T03:53:08+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-05-30T12:20:13+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-05-27T00:08:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine","date":"2025-05-26T11:53:16+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-05-20T09:26:28+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine","date":"2025-05-20T02:54:19+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"physical-and-engineering-sciences-in-medicine","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"apes","sideBox":"Learn more about [Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine](http://link.springer.com/journal/13246)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/apes/default.aspx","title":"Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"bad14a2c-227b-4f34-b290-77f5ef22f087","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 29th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-08-25T16:32:01+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6704587","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-025-01630-1","journal":{"identity":"physical-and-engineering-sciences-in-medicine","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine"},"publishedOn":"2025-08-21 16:29:00","publishedOnDateReadable":"August 21st, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-05-29 14:00:25","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s13246-025-01630-1","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-025-01630-1","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6704587","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6704587","identity":"rs-6704587","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}