Solid targets for [sup.99m]Tc production on medical cyclotrons

Recent disruptions in the molybdenum-technetium generator supply chain prompted a review of nonreactor based production methods for both [sup.99]Mo and [sup.99m]Tc. Small medical cyclotrons (Ep ~ 16-24 MeV) are capable of producing Curie quantities of [sup.99m]Tc from isotopically enriched [sup.100]...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry 2014-02, Vol.299 (2)
Main Authors: Hanemaayer, V, Benard, F, Buckley, K.R, Klug, J, Kovacs, M, Leon, C, Ruth, T.J, Schaffer, P, Zeisler, S.K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Innovations
Molybdenum
Particle accelerators
Powders
Sintering
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Summary:Recent disruptions in the molybdenum-technetium generator supply chain prompted a review of nonreactor based production methods for both [sup.99]Mo and [sup.99m]Tc. Small medical cyclotrons (Ep ~ 16-24 MeV) are capable of producing Curie quantities of [sup.99m]Tc from isotopically enriched [sup.100]Mo using the [sup.100]Mo(p,2n)[sup.99m]Tc reaction. Unlike most other metallic target materials for routine production of medical radioisotopes, molybdenum cannot be deposited by reductive electroplating from aqueous salt solutions. To overcome this issue, we developed a new process for solid molybdenum targets based on the electrophoretic deposition of fine [sup.100]Mo powder onto a tantalum plate, followed by high temperature sintering. The targets obtained were mechanically robust and thermally stable when irradiated with protons at high power density. Keywords [sup.99m]Tc * Molybdenum * Solid target * Electrophoretic deposition
ISSN:0236-5731
DOI:10.1007/s10967-013-2626-4