Molybdenum-99 (99Mo): Past, Present, and Future
1Isotope Production Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan
2Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
3Ezeiza Atomic Center, National Commission of Atomic Energy, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Molybdenum-99 (99Mo): Past, Present, and Future
Description
Molybdenum-99 (99Mo, half-life = 66 h) is a parent of diagnostic nuclear medicine. It decays to technetium-99m (99mTc, half-life = 6 h), which is used in over 30 million investigations per year around the world. Supplies of fission 99Mo/99mTc generators remained fragile in the last few years and shortages are likely to occur again in the short and long terms. A research reactor is only one piece of the linear supply chain of 99Mo/99mTc that exists today. In April 2010, the United States and 46 other countries signed an agreement to phase out HEU for civilian uses to reduce proliferation concerns. Now scientists and engineers involved in 99Mo production are working to determine on how to continue to make 99Mo with low-enriched uranium (LEU, <20% 235U) and other alternatives that do not require fissioning of 235U. To overcome the shortage of 99Mo, various routes of its production by accelerators and reactors generating low and high specific activity products have been planned.
We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the issues relating to production of acceptable 99Mo to end users and environmentalist. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Production of fission-based 99Mo
- Production of n, gamma-based 99Mo
- Accelerator-based 99Mo production
- Conversion of fission Mo-99 production to LEU
- Role of different countries and organization to resolve potential shortage issues
- Role of commercial suppliers of 99Mo and processing technologies
- 99mTc generators using low specific activity 99Mo
- Concentration techniques for 99mTc
- Good manufacturing practices and quality control of 99Mo
- Radioactive waste management
- Alternatives to 99Mo/99mTc
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