SELECTION OF A LEACHING SYSTEM FOR THE EXTRACTION OF MOLYBDENUM-98 FROM USED ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTс GEL GENERATORS

The production of the radiopharmaceutical “Sodium pertechnetate ^99mTc, solution for injection” from the transported ^99mTc generator is a complex multi-stage process that includes the collection and disposal of radioactive waste generated at various technological stages of production, as well as after the return of the generator used in clinics. Currently, natural molybdenum oxide is used for the development of the parent isotope ⁹⁹Mo at the WWR-K reactor, but as the need for ^99mTc generators in Kazakhstan increases, the question arises about the use of expensive molybdenum oxide enriched with the isotope ⁹⁸Mo, therefore, the task of regenerating irradiated molybdenum arises. The paper presents experimental data on the choice of an optimal leaching system for the isolation of molybdenum-98 from spent ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators.

1. Kelmar R., Manukyan K.V., Simon A., Aprahamian A. Preparation and Characterization of Isotopically Pure Mo targets for nuclear science measurements // Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. – 2022. – Vol. 1034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.166763

2. Stene, Riane Elizabeth. Development of dry and nonaqueous techniques for the separation of molybdenum from uranium and investigations of group six metal fluoride and oxyfluoride chemistry. Technische University München (TUM) (Germany). Fakultät für Physik. 28 Jul 2020; 290 p; Available from: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:91-diss-202009091550342-1-5; Diss. (Dr.rer.nat.)

3. Welsh J, Bigles CI, Valderrabano A, Future US (2015) Supply of Mo-99 production through fission-based LEU/LEU technology. J Radioanal Nucl Chem.:305(1):9– 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-015-4090-9

4. Ross, Carl K. and William T. Diamond. “Predictions regarding the supply of 99Mo and 99mTc when NRU ceases production in 2018” arXiv: Medical Phys. (2015): n. pag.

5. Prikaz Ministra zdravookhraneniya Respubliki Kazakhstan ot 25 avgusta 2022 goda No. ҚR DSM-90. Zaregistrirovan v Ministerstve yustitsii Respubliki Kazakhstan 26 avgusta 2022 goda № 29292. (In Russian)