the iaea coordinated research project molybdenum-99 production using leu fission or neutron...

The IAEA Coordinated Research ProjectMolybdenum-99 Production Using LEU Fission or

Neutron Activation (T1.20.18)

Ira N. Goldman, Natesan Ramamoorthy, Pablo Adelfang

International Atomic Energy Agency

2006 RERTR International Meeting

29 October - 3 November 2006

Cape Town, South Africa

CRP on Mo99 Production LEU / NA

Background

• Most Mo99 is currently produced with HEU.• Efforts to shift production of medical isotopes away

from use of HEU (thru RERTR). • Some member states are seeking to become small

scale, indigenous producers of Mo99 • Encourage and provide access to LEU technology

or neutron activation (NA) methods as HEU no longer available or accepted.


CRP

• CRPs: research institutes in developing and developed Member States collaborate.

• Encourage dissemination of new knowledge involving nuclear/isotopic techniques.

• IAEA acts as sponsoring and coordinating body for research carried out by selected institutions.

• 4000 Euro per contract per year and support for participation in RCM.

• Additional training activities as EB funds permit.


History

• November 2004 - Consultants Meeting

• February 2005 - CRP approved

• May 2005 - Potential Mo99 Producer’s Workshop, Buenos Aires

• September 2005 – Contracts/Agreements approved

• December 2005 – 1st Research Coordination Meeting, Vienna

• March 2006 – Foil Targets Workshop, Serpong, Indonesia

CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA

Objectives

• Assist member states with adoption of LEU Cintichem (foil targets) or neutron activation (gel moly) technology.

• Further demonstrate efficacy of LEU production of Mo99

• Advance intl non-proliferation and nuclear security objectives, promote sustainable development.

• Foster capacity building for local/regional self-sufficiency to meet Mo99 needs

• NOT aimed at existing large-scale producers (but they are participating/contributing)


Purpose

• Assist recipients to research, test, and evaluate:

- LEU modified Cintichem process with LEU foil targets

-Neutron activation of natural molybdenum oxide targets and utilization of gel generators.

• Disseminate information on Mo99 production using LEU foil targets or gel generators obtained from experimental evaluation of the technologies.


Output

• Participants will obtain necessary know-how for small-scale production using transferred LEU/ NA technologies.

• Technology transfer will address all steps: target preparation, irradiation, radiochemical processing, safety, waste management, quality control, and quality assurance.

CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA

Research Contracts

• Chile: LEU modified Cintichem w/foil targets• Kazakhstan: gel generators• Libya: LEU modified Cintichem w/foil targets• Pakistan: LEU modified Cintichem w/foil targets• Romania (IFIN-HH): gel generators• Romania (Pitesti): LEU modified Cintichem w/foil

targets


Research Agreements

• Argentina: LEU fission moly implementation • Republic of Korea: development of LEU foil targets• India: standardization of gel generators and feasibility of

fission moly. • Indonesia: development of LEU foil targets• U.S. (ANL): LEU-modified Cintichem foil targets technology

transfer• U.S. (U. Missouri MURR):LEU-modified Cintichem foil

targets; requirements for FDA approval of LEU-produced Mo-99


First RCM 11-14 December 2005, Vienna

• Individual country workplans reviewed and revised.

• Coordinated activities and experimental program established.

• Necessary materials and expertise specified.

• Actions and milestones established.

• Project website initiated after first RCM


LEU Foil Workshop, 6-10 March 2006, Serpong, Indonesia

• Lectures and facility visits

• Foil preparation, target fabrication, assembly and disassembly, irradiated target processing

• ANL lecturers, BATAN personnel facility demonstrations.

• Based upon U.S. DOE – Indonesia bilateral cooperation program


Provision of Materials

• Aluminum tubing shipped from ANL (03/06).

• KAERI agreed to supply test foils.

• IAEA review of legal requirements for transfers.

• Discussions with other foil supplier (CERCA).

• Glassware procured by IAEA with DOE funding (shipment 12/06).

• Receipt of DU, NU, LEU foils (Winter/07).


Commercial Industry Involvement

• Major Mo-99 producers observers at 1st RCM

• Major producers agreed to support Nov. 2006 workshop (lecturers)

• CERCA, BWXT also to participate

• Possible test foils from CERCA

CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA28 November – 1 December 2006, Vienna

Workshop on Operational Aspects of Mo-99 Production

• Lectures on:- target plate manufacture, foil target production-target irradiation-irradiated plate processing-logistics, storage, and transportation-environmental and waste management-quality management-physical protection/security

• Lecturers from BWXT, CERCA, KAERI, MDS Nordion, NECSA, NRG Petten. Tyco Health Care

• Supported with DOE funding


Second Year Activities

• Completion of calculations for target irradiation (12/06).

• Finalize and submit safety analysis reports (12/06).• Finalize irradiation rig and target designs.• Cold assembly, testing, and disassembly of targets

(NU, DU, later LEU) • Finalize procedures and protocols, including

process facilities, quality control and assurance.• Second Research Coordination Meeting (RCM),

Bucharest (16-20 April 2007, tentative).


Third Year/Future Activities

• Irradiation of LEU targets (12/07) and processing of hot targets (02/08)

• Irradiation of Mo oxide and preparation of ‘moly Mo-99 gel’ powder for gel column generators

• Compare, assess, and interpret results, provide follow-up, and suggest adaptive changes

• Review compliance with specifications and purity requirements.

• Make modifications to improve future efforts. • Publish Agency TECDOC on the final results


Conclusions (1)

CRP has had a good start in the first year:

1. calculational work and other prep activities for fission moly have progressed in each country,

2. gel moly experiments and gel generator trial productin carried out; additional analysis work underway

3. aluminium tubing supplied, glassware by early 2007,4. arrangements for foil are falling into place, 1st quarter

20075. two workshops/training held, including one in cooperation

with Mo-99 industry


Conclusions (2)

• Papers later in this session by Chile and Romania (Pitesti) will describe their specific progress in fission moly work.

• India completed commissioning production facility for gel generators, limited supply now to hospital radiopharms.

• Some activities are behind schedule• Plan to hold a technical training workshop for gel moly

group• Work remains to be done to achieve irradiation and

processing at end of 2007/beginning of 2008


Conclusions (3)

• CRP directly supportive of RERTR objectives.• Will help build experience, consensus on use of

(a) LEU for Mo-99 production and (b) gel generator option using NA produced Mo-99.

• Results and experience gained will help strengthen local capability for undertaking small scale Mo-99 production in participant countries.

• Facilitate enhanced utilization of research reactors by local production of radioisotopes


THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!!

the iaea coordinated research project molybdenum-99 production using leu fission or neutron...

Documents

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