Publication Laka-library:
Feasibility of Producing Molybdenum-99 on a Small Scale Using Fission of Low Enriched Uranium or Neutron Activation of Natural Molybdenum

AuthorIAEA
6-07-4-60-32.pdf
DateJanuary 2015
Classification 6.07.4.60/32 (MISCELLANEOUS - RADIO ISOTOPES - NUCLEAR MEDICINE / MEDICAL APPLICATIONS )
Front

From the publication:

Feasibility of Producing Molybdenum-99 on a Small Scale 
Using Fission of Low Enriched Uranium 
or Neutron Activation of Natural Molybdenum

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
VIENNA, 2015
IAEA Technical reports series no. 478

FOREWORD
This publication documents the work performed within the IAEA coordinated 
research project (CRP) on Developing Techniques for Small Scale Indigenous 
Molybdenum-99 Production Using LEU Fission or Neutron Activation. The 
project allowed participating institutions to receive training and 
information on aspects necessary for starting production of molybdenum-99 
(99Mo) on a small scale, that is, to become national level producers of 
this medical isotope.
Stable production of 99Mo is one of the most pressing issues facing the 
nuclear community at present, because the medical isotope technetium-99m 
(99mTc), which decays from 99Mo, is one of the most widely used radionuclides 
in diagnostic imaging and treatment around the world. In the past five years,
 there have been widespread shortages of 99Mo owing to the limited number of 
 producers, many of which use ageing facilities.
To assist in stabilizing the production of 99Mo, and to promote the use of 
production methods that do not rely on the use of highly enriched uranium 
(HEU), the IAEA initiated the abovementioned CRP on small scale 99Mo 
production using low enriched uranium (LEU) fission or neutron activation 
methods. The intention was to enable participating institutions to gain the 
knowledge necessary to become national level producers of 99Mo in the event 
of further global shortages. Some of the institutions that participated in 
the CRP have continued their work on 99Mo production, and are enlisting the 
assistance of other CRP members and the IAEA’s technical cooperation 
programme to set up a small scale production capability.