14 MeV Neutrons for 99Mo/99mTc Production: Experiments, Simulations and Perspectives

Marco Capogni; Antonino Pietropaolo; Lina Quintieri; Maurizio Angelone; Alessandra Boschi; Mauro Capone; Nadia Cherubini; Pierino De Felice; Alessandro Dodaro; Adriano Duatti; Aldo Fazio; Stefano Loreti; Petra Martini; Guglielmo Pagano; Micol Pasquali; Mario Pillon; Licia Uccelli; Aldo Pizzuto

doi:10.3390/molecules23081872

Molecules (Jul 2018)

14 MeV Neutrons for 99Mo/99mTc Production: Experiments, Simulations and Perspectives

Marco Capogni,
Antonino Pietropaolo,
Lina Quintieri,
Maurizio Angelone,
Alessandra Boschi,
Mauro Capone,
Nadia Cherubini,
Pierino De Felice,
Alessandro Dodaro,
Adriano Duatti,
Aldo Fazio,
Stefano Loreti,
Petra Martini,
Guglielmo Pagano,
Micol Pasquali,
Mario Pillon,
Licia Uccelli,
Aldo Pizzuto

Affiliations

Marco Capogni: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Antonino Pietropaolo: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Lina Quintieri: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Maurizio Angelone: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Alessandra Boschi: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Ludovico Ariosto, 35-44121 Ferrara, Italy
Mauro Capone: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Nadia Cherubini: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Pierino De Felice: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Alessandro Dodaro: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Adriano Duatti: Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Ludovico Ariosto 35, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Aldo Fazio: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Stefano Loreti: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Petra Martini: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Ludovico Ariosto, 35-44121 Ferrara, Italy
Guglielmo Pagano: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Micol Pasquali: Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Ludovico Ariosto 35, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Mario Pillon: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy
Licia Uccelli: Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Via Ludovico Ariosto, 35-44121 Ferrara, Italy
Aldo Pizzuto: ENEA-Department of Fusion and Technology for Nuclear Safety and Security, Via E. Fermi 45, Frascati, I-00044 Roma, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23081872
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23, no. 8
p. 1872

Abstract

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Background: the gamma-emitting radionuclide Technetium-99m (99mTc) is still the workhorse of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) as it is used worldwide for the diagnosis of a variety of phatological conditions. 99mTc is obtained from 99Mo/99mTc generators as pertechnetate ion, which is the ubiquitous starting material for the preparation of 99mTc radiopharmaceuticals. 99Mo in such generators is currently produced in nuclear fission reactors as a by-product of 235U fission. Here we investigated an alternative route for the production of 99Mo by irradiating a natural metallic molybdenum powder using a 14-MeV accelerator-driven neutron source. Methods: after irradiation, an efficient isolation and purification of the final 99mTc-pertechnetate was carried out by means of solvent extraction. Monte Carlo simulations allowed reliable predictions of 99Mo production rates for a newly designed 14-MeV neutron source (New Sorgentina Fusion Source). Results: in traceable metrological conditions, a level of radionuclidic purity consistent with accepted pharmaceutical quality standards, was achieved. Conclusions: we showed that this source, featuring a nominal neutron emission rate of about 1015 s−1, may potentially supply an appreciable fraction of the current 99Mo global demand. This study highlights that a robust and viable solution, alternative to nuclear fission reactors, can be accomplished to secure the long-term supply of 99Mo.

Published in Molecules

ISSN: 1420-3049 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Organic chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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