History and Actual State of Non-HEU Fission-Based Mo-99 Production with Low-Performance Research Reactors

Abstract

Fifty years ago, one of the worldwide first industrial production processes to produce fission-Mo-99 for medical use had been started at ZfK Rossendorf (now: HZDR, Germany). On the occasion of this anniversary, it is worth to mention that this original process (called LITEMOL now) together with its target concept used at that time can still be applied. LITEMOL can be adapted very easily to various research reactors and applied at each site, which maybe still of interest for very small-scale producers. Besides this original process, two further and actually proven processes are suitable as well and recommended for small-scale LEU fission Mo-99 production also. They are known under the names KSA/KSS COMPACT and ROMOL LITE and will be described below.

Specimen Size Artifacts Associated with a Glovebox Deployable Laser Flash Diffusivity Measurement System

“…The production and supply of 99 Mo is imperative to the medical industry, as it is the parent isotope of 99m Tc, an isotope used in 85% of medical imaging applications. Historically, 99 Mo was produced using highly enriched uranium (HEU), but proliferation concerns have led to significant efforts being under way to enable its production using low enriched uranium (LEU) [1][2][3][4]. Additionally, recent supply chain issues have interrupted the stream of 99 Mo, so the option to produce it using LEU would ensure a reliable domestic supply for the United Sates and would thus ease the supply chain issues.…”

Demonstration of Dimensional and Microstructural Postirradiation Examination Capabilities on MiniFuel Disk Specimens

“…This has placed the United States in a position in which unexpected supply chain disruptions have significantly affected the availability and price of 99m Tc. Additionally, because of increasing concerns about proliferation risks, it is desired that future 99 Mo production occur using low-enriched uranium (LEU) targets instead of highly enriched uranium (HEU) targets [1][2][3][4]. In response to these needs, a New Mexico-based startup, Eden Radiopharmaceuticals, is developing its own commercial capabilities for 99 Mo production in the United States to reduce the country's reliance on imported 99 Mo.…”

Study of new routes for purification of fission 99Mo

“…This process was developed initially in Germany and applied on an industrial scale in the Netherlands in 1996, where it became a reliable, safe, and high efficient industrial-scale process ran by the Mallinckrodt Company at Petten (Netherland). Later, it was adopted by other countries such as Argentina and South Africa [9][10][11][12].…”