-MoO whiskers in Mo/Tc radioisotope production and Mo/Tc extraction using hot atoms

Ngo, M. C.*; Fujita, Yoshitaka; Suzuki, Tatsuya*; Do, T. M. D.*; Seki, Misaki; Nakayama, Tadachika*; Niihara, Koichi*; Suematsu, Hisayuki*

Inorganic Chemistry, 62(32), p.13140 - 13147, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c02125

Technetium-99m (Tc) is one of the most important radioisotopes for diagnostic radio-imaging applications. Tc is a daughter product of the Mo isotope. There are two methods used to produce Mo/Tc: the nuclear fission (n,f) and the neutron capture (n,) methods. Between them, the (n,f) method is the main route, used for approximately 90% of the world's production. However, the (n,f) method faces numerous problems, including the use of highly enriched uranium, the release of highly radioactive waste, and nonproliferation problems. Therefore, the (n,) method is being developed as a future replacement for the (n,f) method. In this work, -MoO whiskers prepared by the thermal evaporation method and -MoO particles were irradiated in a nuclear reactor to produce Mo/Tc via neutron capture. The irradiated targets were dispersed into water to extract the Mo/Tc. As a result, -MoO whisker yielded higher Mo extraction rate than that from -MoO. In addition, by comparing the dissolved Mo concentrations in water, we clarified a prominent hot-atom of -MoO whiskers. This research is the first demonstration of -MoO being used as an irradiation target in the neutron capture method. On the basis of the results, -MoO is considered a promising irradiation target for producing Mo/Tc by neutron capture and using water for the radioisotope extraction process in the future.

Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors

Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Morishita, Masaki*; Aizawa, Kosuke; Ando, Masanori; Ashida, Takashi; Chikazawa, Yoshitaka; Doda, Norihiro; Enuma, Yasuhiro; Ezure, Toshiki; Fukano, Yoshitaka; et al.

Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors; JSME Series in Thermal and Nuclear Power Generation, Vol.3, 631 Pages, 2022/07

https://shop.elsevier.com/books/sodium-cooled-fast-reactors/morishita/978-0-12-824076-2

This book is a collection of the past experience of design, construction, and operation of two reactors, the latest knowledge and technology for SFR designs, and the future prospects of SFR development in Japan. It is intended to provide the perspective and the relevant knowledge to enable readers to become more familiar with SFR technology.

Dynamic properties on Mo adsorption and Tc elution with alumina columns

Fujita, Yoshitaka; Seki, Misaki; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Suzuki, Tatsuya*; Yoshinaga, Hisao*; Hori, Junichi*; Suematsu, Hisayuki*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko

Journal of Physics; Conference Series, 2155, p.012018_1 - 012018_6, 2022/01

https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2155/1/012018

Technetium-99m (Tc), the daughter nuclide of Molybdenum-99 (Mo), is the most commonly used radioisotope in radiopharmaceuticals. The research and development (R&D) for the production of Mo by the neutron activation method ((n, ) method) has been carried out from viewpoints of no-proliferation and nuclear security, etc. Since the specific activity of Mo produced by the (n, ) method is extremely low, developing AlO with a large Mo adsorption capacity is necessary to adapt (n, )Mo to the generator. In this study, three kinds of AlO specimens with different raw materials were prepared and compared their adaptability to generators by static and dynamic adsorption. MoO pellet pieces (1.5g) were irradiated with 5 MW for 20 min in the Kyoto University Research Reactor (KUR). Irradiated MoO pellet pieces were dissolved in 6M-NaOH aq. In dynamic adsorption, 1 g of AlO was filled into a PFA tube (1.59 mm). The Mo adsorption capacity of AlO specimens under dynamic condition was slightly reduced compared to that under static condition. The Tc elution rate was about 100% at 1.5 mL of milking in dynamic adsorption, while it was around 56-87% in static adsorption. The Mo/Tc ratio of dynamic condition was greatly reduced compared to that of static condition. Therefore, the Tc elution property is greatly affected by the method of adsorbing Mo, e.g., the column shape, the linear flow rate, etc.

Effect on Mo-adsorption/Tc-elution properties of alumina with different surface structures

Fujita, Yoshitaka; Seki, Misaki; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; Kitagawa, Tomoya*; Matsukura, Minoru*; Hori, Junichi*; Suzuki, Tatsuya*; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 327(3), p.1355 - 1363, 2021/03

AA2020-0805.pdf:0.77MB

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07616-z

We prepared three types of AlO with different surface structures and investigated Mo-adsorption/Tc-elution properties using [Mo]MoO that was irradiated in the Kyoto University Research Reactor. AlO adsorbed [Mo]molybdate ions in solutions at different pH; the lower was the pH, the higher was the Mo-adsorption capacity of AlO. The Tc-elution properties of molybdate ion adsorbed AlO were elucidated by flowing saline. Consequently, it was suggested that Mo-adsorption/desorption properties are affected by the specific surface of AlO and Tc-elution properties are affected by the crystal structure of AlO.

Radiochemical research for the advancement of Mo/Tc generator by (n,) method

Fujita, Yoshitaka; Seki, Misaki; Namekawa, Yoji*; Nishikata, Kaori; Kimura, Akihiro; Shibata, Akira; Sayato, Natsuki; Tsuchiya, Kunihiko; Sano, Tadafumi*; Fujihara, Yasuyuki*; et al.

KURNS Progress Report 2018, P. 155, 2019/08

https://www.rri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/PUB/report/PR/ProgRep2018/KURNS_Progress_Report2018_web.pdf

no abstracts in English

Update of control system for auxiliary pumping and primary water cooling facilities in JT-60 NBI

Kikuchi, Katsumi; Akino, Noboru; Ebisawa, Noboru; Ikeda, Yoshitaka; Seki, Norikazu*; Takenouchi, Tadashi; Tanai, Yutaka

JAEA-Technology 2008-034, 25 Pages, 2008/04

JAEA-Technology-2008-034.pdf:3.7MB

The control system for auxiliary pumping facility and primary water cooling facility in JT-60 NBI was updated. To realize the cost reduction, the control system with many input and outputs of 2000 was updated by JAEA itself using commercial Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC's). JAEA also made software with 3600 ladder lines by JAEA itself based on commercial basic programs. In addition to the simple replacement of the hardware and software, the function of remote operation has been newly added. At present, the auxiliary pumping facility and the primary water cooling facility have been stably operated without troubles. The remote operation enables to collect the detailed information on the trouble more easily, resulting in a quick countermeasure for the trouble.

Compact antenna for two-dimensional beam scan in the JT-60U electron cyclotron heating/current drive system

Moriyama, Shinichi; Kajiwara, Ken*; Takahashi, Koji; Kasugai, Atsushi; Seki, Masami; Ikeda, Yoshitaka; Fujii, Tsuneyuki; JT-60 Team

Review of Scientific Instruments, 76(11), p.113504_1 - 113504_6, 2005/11

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2130967

A compact antenna has been designed and fabricated to enable millimeter wave beam scan in the toroidal and the poloidal directions of the JT-60U Tokamak, for electron cyclotron heating (ECH) and current drive (ECCD) experiments. It consists of fast movable flat mirror mounted on the Tokamak vacuum vessel, and rotary focusing mirror attached at the end of the waveguide supported from outside of the vacuum vessel. This separate support concept enables compact structure in the shallow port (0.68 m 0.54 m 0.2m) sharing with a sub-port for an independent diagnostic system. The flat mirror is driven during a shot by a servo-motor with a 3 m long drive shaft to refuse influence of the high magnetic field to the motor. The focusing mirror is rotated by a simple mechanism with a push rod and an air cylinder. The antenna has been operated reliably for 3 years after small improvement in the rotary mechanism. It has been contributing ECH and ECCD experiments especially current profile control, in JT-60U.

Development of cold isostatic pressing graphite module for a heat-resistant lower hybrid current drive antenna

Maebara, Sunao; Goniche, M.*; Kazarian, F.*; Seki, Masami; Ikeda, Yoshitaka; Imai, Tsuyoshi*; Beaumont, B.*

Review of Scientific Instruments, 76(5), p.053501_1 - 053501_7, 2005/05

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1891465

Development of a plasma facing module using Cold Isostatic Pressing Graphite (CIPG) had been done for a heat-resistant LHCD antenna. A thin stainless film (10m), molybdenum film (10m) and copper film (50m) are laid to overlap each other on the CIPG materials, the CIPG surfaces were successfully coated with copper layer by diffusion bonding method. This module has four waveguides and a water cooling channel, the length is 206 mm. High power long pulse operation was successfully achieved up to 250 kW (125 MW/m)/700s. The module has been successfully tested at a RF power density which is equivalent, in terms of RF electric field (5kV/cm), to the one proposed for the LHCD antenna of ITER-FEAT. The outgassing rate of the copper-coated CIPG is estimated to be 3.2-5.110 Pa.m/s.m at 100C, it is assessed that a pumping system is not required to evacuate the pressure in the LHCD antenna.

Outgassing of lower hybrid antenna modules during high-power long-pulse transmission

Goniche, M.*; Kazarian, F.*; Bibet, P.*; Maebara, Sunao; Seki, Masami; Ikeda, Yoshitaka; Imai, Tsuyoshi*

Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A, 23(1), p.55 - 65, 2005/01

https://doi.org/10.1116/1.1821587

Outgassing rates have been measured for long duration (100-4700 seconds) of RF transmission at high power density (50-200 MW/m) for waveguides made of OFHC copper, dispersoid copper, copper-coated carbon fiber composite and copper-coated graphite. The measurements were performed on multi-waveguide(2 to 8)mockups, using a test bed facility equipped with a 3.7 GHz klystron. The effect on the outgassing rate of waveguide surface temperature and of initial wall gas loading('conditioning'), is examined. It is concluded that an outgassing rate of 110 Pamsm and 510 Pamsm at 300C and 400C respectively, can be expected for the tested material. Based on these measurement results, it is further concluded that no additional pumping will be needed for the LHRF antenna proposed for ITER.

Heating and current drive by electron cyclotron waves in JT-60U

Suzuki, Takahiro; Ide, Shunsuke; Hamamatsu, Kiyotaka; Isayama, Akihiko; Fujita, Takaaki; Petty, C. C.*; Ikeda, Yoshitaka; Kajiwara, Ken*; Naito, Osamu; Seki, Masami; et al.

Nuclear Fusion, 44(7), p.699 - 708, 2004/05

https://doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/44/7/002

no abstracts in English