Production of 99Mo at IFMIF-DONES reusing the flux of neutrons

Abstract

The accelerator-based neutron facility IFMIF-DONES is in the final design phase. At present, there is an important effort to optimize other secondary uses compatible with the main goal which is the validation of materials to be used in fusion reactors. One is the production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine, in particular, Molybdenum-99. The decay of 99Mo produces Technetium-99 metastable. 99mTc is the most used radiopharmaceutical in nuclear medicine, in particular, it is used for SPECT imaging diagnostic. Currently, its production is compromised by the possible closure of some of the few nuclear reactors which produces it, and the search for new alternative ways to obtain it is urgent. This study has been carried out considering three types of molybdenum samples (natural and 95% enriched in 98Mo and 100Mo) and two different positions close to the neutron target. The results of the simulated production are promising and push further studies.