A practical method for the preparation of [11C]acetate

For the production of [11C]acetate a simple method is described, which is easy to automate since no solvent extraction or distillation is required. The major step is the trapping of [11C]acetate on a short anion-exchange column after the chloride ions have been removed with a silver column. Organic solvent and radiochemical byproducts such as 11C-acetone and [11C]t-butanol pass this anion-exchange column and are found in the waste. The [11C]acetate is eluted from the column with an injectable citrate buffer. A run requires about 15 min to give [11C]acetate ready for injection in a radiochemical yield of 60–65% and a purity of >99%.