Abstract Proton irradiation of natural and enriched SrCl2 targets was used to produce PET radioisotope 86Y. The proton energy was degraded from the incident 117.8 MeV to induce the 88Sr(p,3n) reaction. For the irradiation three pellets made of natSrCl2 (6.61 and 74.49 g) and 88SrCl2 (5.02 g) were pressed and individually encapsulated in stainless steel target bodies. The two smaller targets were irradiated for 0.5–1 h at the energy ∼ 46→37 MeV to take advantage of the peak in the excitation function of the 88Sr(p,3n) reaction. The larger target was irradiated at 66.4→44.6 MeV. The irradiated pellets were chemically processed to selectively separate 86Y radioisotope using Eichrom DGA (N,N,N´,N´-tetra-n-octyldiglycolamide) resin. The production yields of 86Y were determined to be 10–13 mCi/μA h. Coproduction of 87mY in the final product was 34% for natSrCl2 and 54% for 88SrCl2 target. The chemical separation yield of yttrium reached 88–92%. The developed chemical procedure allows for the same day processing and shipment of the isotope to users.