Study on Low-Radioactive High-Purity Lutetium Oxide for Crystal Use

In positron emission tomography (PET) systems, background events generated by spontaneous radiation from scintillation crystals, non-real random coincidence events, and background noise caused by scattered coincidence events may have a significant impact on the image signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, PET systems usually use methods such as reducing spontaneous radiation and improving the quality indicators of scintillation crystals to reduce the impact.

The most commonly used Rare Earth scintillating crystals in PET systems are lutetium yttrium silicate LYSO and lutetium silicate LSO. In these two crystals, lutetium oxide is the main component of the matrix material, accounting for about 80% of the crystal weight. In order to obtain higher performance LSO or LYSO scintillating crystals, higher quality indicators of lutetium oxide (Lu₂O₃) are required.

The quality index of lutetium oxide raw materials is positively correlated with the quality index of scintillation crystals, and is closely related to the performance of the PET system. The initial raw material of lutetium oxide is often the southern ion adsorption type rare earth ore. In the ionic rare earth liquid, in addition to the radioactive isotopes of the rare earth itself, there are also trace amounts of uranium and thorium radionuclides. These radioactive elements are further enriched in the lutetium chloride liquid during the separation process. Therefore, minimizing the non-rare earth radioactive elements in lutetium oxide is the key to reducing the radioactive background.

Suzhou KP Chemical Co., Ltd can provide Lutetium oxide (Lu₂O₃), Lutetium (Lu), and Lutetium(III) chloride (LuCl₃). Please contact info@szwww.kpchemmaterial.com or 086-18915544907.