Assessment of Mo-99 radioisotope supply chain using LEU in Iran

Abstract

Tc-99m is the most important nuclear medicine radioisotope produced from the decay of Mo-99. Currently, Iran's demand for Mo-99 is 120 Ci per week. More than 90% of the Mo-99 in the world is produced via U-235 fission. The supply chain of this radioisotope includes the Uranium target supplier, the nuclear reactor, the Mo-99 processing facility, and the Mo-99/Tc-99m generator manufacturer. Investigation of the domestic existing facilities of Iran shows that its production is feasible inside the country. The present study focuses on the Mo-99 production chain in Iran and presents the appropriate radiochemical method. Uranium targets in the miniplate form with irradiation capability in TRR were accepted as feed for processing unit facilities. According to the special limitations of Iran, the Modified AMOR process, which is a combination of AMOR and ROMOL processes, is identified as the appropriate method for the available U3O8-Al/Al targets. The researches and the experimental activities are proposed based on this method.

Keywords

• mo-99
• tc-99m
• low enriched uranium (leu)
• modified amor
• romol