An Al2(WO4)3 target bombarded with a proton beam (28.5 MeV, 20 A) for 1 hour was completely dissolved in about 5 ml of hot 2N NaOH and the clear solution was neutralized with 2N HCl. The resulted white precipitate of Al2(WO4)3 can be separated from the solution by centrifugation and decantation. The supematant containing radioactive Re as ReO 4– was loaded onto a column (1 cm×10 cm) of activated alumina (100–200 mesh). Eluted with 10 ml of saline, the carrier-free ReO 4– was collected, while the small amount of Al2(WO4)3 in the supematant was adsorbed on the column. The total yield of ReO 4– was 94.7% and the breakthrough of WO 42– , only 1.0·10–6 M. The whole separation process can be accomplished within 30 minutes. This rapid and efficient Re/W separation protocol is applicable to the preparation of carrier-free186Re, when an enrichel Al2(186WO4)3 target is used.