R&D on separation, concentration and recovery of Tc from Mo for commercial production

Shiina, Takayuki*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko ; Nagai, Yasuki; Morikawa, Yasumasa*; Takeuchi, Nobuhiro*

According to statistical data reported by the Japan Radioisotope Association (JRIA) in 2014, the Mo/Tc generator and Tc injections (Tc labeled pharmaceuticals) continues to account for approximately 80% of the entire in-vivo supply in Japan. Furthermore, the number of Tc injection supplies is approximately four times larger than that of the Mo/Tc generator. Therefore, Chiyoda Technol Co. have performed a research and development (R&D) for the domestic production of Tc in cooperation with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and FUJIFILM RI pharma Co., Ltd. to ensure a constant and reliable supply of Tc. CTC therefore has a plan to stably produce Tc from Mo, which can be produced by the Mo(n,) reaction using the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR) and by the Mo(n,2n) reaction using some new cyclotrons, and thereby to meet the Japanese demand for Tc together with pharmaceutical companies in Japan. These production methods of Mo were selected from viewpoints of safety, nuclear proliferation resistance and waste management. The specific activity of Mo produced by these methods, however, is very low compared with that of (n,f)Mo. Therefore, it is essential to develop some techniques for separation, concentration and recovery of Tc, and it will be necessary to choose the best methods such as a wet method by solvent extraction and a dry method by sublimation, finally. In future, we aim to provide to about 20% of the domestic demand for Mo using the JMTR and cyclotrons, 100-200 6-day Ci per week at the end of irradiation, and will carry out empirical studies for the commercial production of Tc.