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Processing and evaluation of linear accelerator-produced 99Mo/99mTc in Canada

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Abstract

We are developing electron linear accelerator 100Mo(γ,n)99Mo technology as a replacement to nuclear reactor 235U(n,f)99Mo production. We report irradiation of natural molybdenum disks (25 MeV, 10 kW) and 100Mo-enriched disks (35 MeV, 2 kW), their dissolution and the extraction of 99mTc-pertechnetate. Up to 6.2 GBq 99Mo was produced, solvent extraction was performed at >90 % yields of 99mTc, and quality control showed that a product with high radionuclidic and radiochemical purity could be obtained. Irradiated natural molybdenum products showed more impurities (91mNb, 92mNb, 95mNb and 95Nb) than enriched target material. Linear accelerator technology is feasible for production of quality 99Mo/99mTc, particularly when paired with 100Mo-enriched targets.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by funding from Natural Resources Canada under the Non-Reactor Isotope Supply Program and the Isotope Technology Acceleration Program. Irradiation work at Mevex Corporation and the National Research Council, Ottawa is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology, University of Manitoba, 820 Sherbrook Street, Rm GC219, Winnipeg, MB, R3A 1R9, Canada

    Kennedy Mang’era

  2. Radiopharmaceuticals Research Group, Health Sciences Centre, 807-715 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 3P5, Canada

    Kelly Ogbomo, Riadh Zriba, Jared Fitzpatrick, Jenna Brown & Eric Pellerin

  3. Acsion Industries, 4D-725 Corydon Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3M 0W4, Canada

    John Barnard & Chris Saunders

  4. Canadian Light Source Inc., Innovation Blvd, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2V3, Canada

    Mark de Jong

Authors
  1. Kennedy Mang’era
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  2. Kelly Ogbomo
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  3. Riadh Zriba
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  4. Jared Fitzpatrick
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  5. Jenna Brown
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  6. Eric Pellerin
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  7. John Barnard
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  8. Chris Saunders
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  9. Mark de Jong
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Correspondence to Kennedy Mang’era.

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Mang’era, K., Ogbomo, K., Zriba, R. et al. Processing and evaluation of linear accelerator-produced 99Mo/99mTc in Canada. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 305, 79–85 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-3997-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-3997-5

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