Abstract Excitation functions and theoretical yields via charge particle induced reactions were evaluated using EMPIRE-3.2.2 and ALICE/ASH codes and the obtained results have been discussed and compared with the available reported experimental data. It has been verified that natCu(p,n)65Zn reaction is the optimum 65Zn production route. The 65Zn was produced using natCu(p,xn) 65Zn reaction in the energy range of 16.8 ? 12.2 MeV with the thick target yield of 0.15 ± 0.005 MBq/lA h. The 65Zn radionuclide was purified by anion exchange chromatography.
