Investigation of Mo-99 radioisotope production by d-Li neutron source

Abstract

A plan of an advanced fusion neutron source (A-FNS) by using d-Li reaction is in progress at Rokkasho in Japan. We investigate multipurpose usages of the A-FNS in addition to fusion material irradiation test. Production of medical isotope 99Mo is considered as one of the usages. We conducted a conceptual study on a module for radioisotope production which was composed of a neutron spectrum shifter and a neutron reflector. We examined impacts of materials of the shifter and reflector on amounts of the 99Mo production, and their thicknesses. It was concluded that beryllium is the most suitable material both for the shifter and the reflector from the viewpoint of the 99Mo production. It was shown that we produced an enough amount of the 99Mo for the demand in Japan. We can apply natural molybdenum for this purpose. It was also shown that we could use a part of irradiation capsules in high flux test module, which was for the fusion material irradiation test originally, by using isotopically enriched 100Mo to meet that. Keywords: d-Li reaction, Fusion neutron source, Medical isotope, 98Mo(n,γ)99Mo, 100Mo(n,2n)99Mo, A-FNS