Excitation functions for the cyclotron production of Tc-99m and Mo-99

Scholten, B;Lambrecht, RM;Cogneau, M.;Ruiz, HV;Qaim, SM
(1999) Applied Radiation and Isotopes — Vol. 51, n° 1, p. 69-80 (1999)

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Authors
  • Scholten, B
    Author
  • Lambrecht, RM
    Author
  • Cogneau, M.
    Author
  • Ruiz, HV
    Author
  • Qaim, SM
    Author
Abstract
Excitation functions for the Mo-100(p,2n)Tc-99m, Mo-100(p,pn)Mo-99 and Mo-98(p,gamma)Tc-99m nuclear reactions were determined using 97.4 and 99.5% isotopic enrichment of Mo-100 and Mo-98, respectively. The irradiations were performed on three different cyclotrons with overlapping data points from 6 to 65 MeV. The optimum energy range for the Mo-100(p,2n)Tc-99m reaction is 22 --> 12 MeV with a peak at similar to 17 MeV and maximum cross section of similar to 200 mb, Over this energy range the production yield of Tc-99m amounts to 11.2 mCi (415 MBq)/mu A h or 102.8 mCi (3804 MBq)/mu A at saturation. There is no serious radionuclidic impurity problem, Production of Mo-99 is not viable due to the low cross section (similar to 130 mb) over the proton energy range of 30 to 50 MeV. The Mo-98(p,gamma)Tc-99m reaction was found to have a cross section of <0.2 mb over the proton energy range studied. The earlier assignment of this reaction channel as a potential route for production of Tc-99m with a medical cyclotron is refuted in this study. Countries that do not have access to fission molybdenum-99 for the Mo-99-->Tc-99m generator, could consider use of a > 17 MeV proton energy cyclotron for regional production of Tc-99m. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Scholten, B., Lambrecht, R., Cogneau, M., Ruiz, H., & Qaim, S. (1999). Excitation functions for the cyclotron production of Tc-99m and Mo-99. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 51(1), 69-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0969-8043(98)00153-5 (Original work published 1999)