METHODS METHODS METHODS METHODS of of of of RADIONUCLIDE PRODUCTION RADIONUCLIDE PRODUCTION RADIONUCLIDE PRODUCTION RADIONUCLIDE PRODUCTION

for MEDICAL ISOTOPE USABILITYfor MEDICAL ISOTOPE USABILITYfor MEDICAL ISOTOPE USABILITYfor MEDICAL ISOTOPE USABILITY

<< MEETING THE DEMAND >>

Nathan S. Hicks12/10/2015 PHYS 575 - Radiation and Detectors

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionA Global CrisisA Global CrisisA Global CrisisA Global Crisishttp://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/uranium-nuclear/7795

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99mTc

177Lu

60Co

192Ir

131I

166Ho125I

133Xe

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090715/full/460312a.html

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionExisting Infrastructure Existing Infrastructure Existing Infrastructure Existing Infrastructure

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Fuel Preparation

Fission Reactor Waste Storage

Tc-99m Generator

Mo-99 Processing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enriched_uranium

Other Production Methods

• Heterogeneous reactors

• Accelerators

• Sub-critical assemblies

• Neutron capture

• Spallation

IntroductionIntroductionIntroductionIntroductionThe Nuclear Medicine MarketThe Nuclear Medicine MarketThe Nuclear Medicine MarketThe Nuclear Medicine Market

Technetium-99mBrain, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidney, Spleen, or Bone Marrow

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http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32833599

Cross Sectional EnergiesCross Sectional EnergiesCross Sectional EnergiesCross Sectional EnergiesMolybdenumMolybdenumMolybdenumMolybdenum----100 / Molybdenum100 / Molybdenum100 / Molybdenum100 / Molybdenum----99 Conversions99 Conversions99 Conversions99 Conversions• Neutrons• Protons• Deuterons

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• Electrons • Photoneutrons and

Photoprotons

Medical RadioisotopesMedical RadioisotopesMedical RadioisotopesMedical RadioisotopesTechnetiumTechnetiumTechnetiumTechnetium----99m from Molybdenum99m from Molybdenum99m from Molybdenum99m from Molybdenum----99999999

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http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32833599

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technetium-99m_generator

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_of_molybdenum

Fission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsMolybdenum ProcessingMolybdenum ProcessingMolybdenum ProcessingMolybdenum Processing

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URANIUM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_cell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-235

Fission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsTechnetium ProcessingTechnetium ProcessingTechnetium ProcessingTechnetium Processing

Specific Activity

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Plastic housing

Accelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsTechnetiumTechnetiumTechnetiumTechnetium----99m Separation99m Separation99m Separation99m Separation

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• Elution of pertechnetate solution (1958).• Thermal Chromatographic Separation via vapor pressure.• Organic Solvent Extraction (MEK Process) via aqueous solution.• Chromatographic Column (ABEC) via immiscible liquids.• Nuclear kinetic recoil via photonuclear reactions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technetium-99m

Accelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsTechnetiumTechnetiumTechnetiumTechnetium----99m 99m 99m 99m Separation Separation Separation Separation ---- CommercializationCommercializationCommercializationCommercialization

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http://www.northstarnm.com/radiogenix-technology

Fission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsGeneral Overview General Overview General Overview General Overview –––– Typical ConstructionTypical ConstructionTypical ConstructionTypical Construction

• Research• Operational purposes• Radioisotope production

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High flux reactors (TRIGA)

energies > 1.1014 neutrons/cm2/s

http://www.rcp.ijs.si/ric/description-a.html

Fission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsGeneral Overview General Overview General Overview General Overview –––– Fuel RodsFuel RodsFuel RodsFuel Rods

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Fission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsFission ReactorsRadioisotope ProductionRadioisotope ProductionRadioisotope ProductionRadioisotope Production

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http://science.sckcen.be/en/Facilities/BR2

http://www.ansto.gov.au/AboutANSTO/OPAL/DevelopmentofOPAL/index.htm

Accelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsCyclotron ProductionCyclotron ProductionCyclotron ProductionCyclotron Production

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclotron

Medium flux reactorsenergies between 1.1012 and 1.1014 neutrons/cm2/s

Accelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsCyclotron Production Cyclotron Production Cyclotron Production Cyclotron Production –––– Compact DesignsCompact DesignsCompact DesignsCompact Designs

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Lorentz ForceLorentz ForceLorentz ForceLorentz Force = [ + ×

Accelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsAccelerator ReactorsLinear Particle Accelerator ProductionLinear Particle Accelerator ProductionLinear Particle Accelerator ProductionLinear Particle Accelerator Production

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ComparisonComparisonComparisonComparisonFission vs. LINAC Produced IsotopesFission vs. LINAC Produced IsotopesFission vs. LINAC Produced IsotopesFission vs. LINAC Produced Isotopes

Comparison shows nearly identical diagnostic images.

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Meeting Global DemandMeeting Global DemandMeeting Global DemandMeeting Global DemandNew Models for Technetium SupplyNew Models for Technetium SupplyNew Models for Technetium SupplyNew Models for Technetium Supply

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http://www.northstarnm.com/streamlined-distribution

Molybdenum

The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything…?

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_of_molybdenum

CitationsC. K. Ross, W. T. Diamond, Predictions regarding the supply of 99Mo and 99mTc when NRU ceases production in 2018, Physics in Canada, June 2015.(http://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1506/1506.08065.pdf)

Peng Hong Liem, Hoai Nam Tran, Tagor Malem Sembiring, Design optimization of a new homogeneous reactor for medical radioisotope Mo-99/Tc-99m production, Progress in Nuclear Energy, Volume 82, July 2015, Pages 191-196, ISSN 0149-1970, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2014.07.040. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149197014002212)

Valeriia N. Starovoitova, Lali Tchelidze, Douglas P. Wells, Production of medical radioisotopes with linear accelerators, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Volume 85, February 2014, Pages 39-44, ISSN 0969-8043, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.11.122. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096980431300571X)

Yasuki Nagai, Medical Isotope Production using High Intensity Accelerator Neutrons, Physics Procedia, Volume 66, 2015, Pages 370-375, ISSN 1875-3892, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2015.05.046. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875389215001996)

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