Evaluation of irradiation parameters of enriched 124Xe target for 123I production in cyclotrons

The production of high-purity 123I that utilizes an isotopically enriched 124Xe target and bombardment with 30 MeV protons, through the reactions 124Xe (p, 2n) 123Cs→123Xe→123I and 124Xe (p, pn) 123Xe→123I, is described. The aim of this work was to improve the production parameters, such as 124Xe load pressure, beam current, decay time and target heating to recover 123I to obtain high-production 123I yield at low cost.