Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method for producing thorium-226. The method comprises separating thorium-226 from uranium-230 to produce a solution of thorium-226 in a solvent, such as a chelating buffer, suitable for direct labeling by a chelate. The thorium-226 may be separated from the uranium-230 using extraction chromatography. The extraction may be repeated multiple times as additional thorium-226 is produced by uranium-230 decay.