Fabrication technology development and characterization of irradiation targets for Mo/Tc production by (n,) method

Nishikata, Kaori  ; Kimura, Akihiro ; Ishida, Takuya; Shiina, Takayuki*; Ota, Akio*; Tanase, Masakazu*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko 

As a part of utilization expansion after the Japan Material Testing Reactor (JMTR) re-start, research and development (R&D) on the production of medical radioisotope Mo/Tc by (n, ) method using JMTR has been carried out in the Neutron Irradiation and Testing Reactor Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. Mo is usually produced by fission method. On the other hand, Mo/Tc production by the (n, ) method has advantages for radioactive waste, cost reduction and non-proliferation. However, the specific radioactivity per unit volume by the (n, ) method is low compared with the fission method, and that is the weak point of the (n, ) method. This report summarizes the investigation of raw materials, the fabrication tests of high-density MoO pellets by the plasma sintering method for increasing of Mo contents and the characterization of sintered high-density MoO pellets.