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

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