Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
1998 International RERTR Meeting

PRESENT STATUS OF THE USE OF LEU IN
AQUEOUS REACTORS TO PRODUCE MO-99

Russell M. Ball
Technology Commercialization International, 1620 Belfield Place, Lynchburg, VA 24503,
 FAX: 804/384-1572

 and

V.A. Pavshook and V.Ye.Khvostionov
Russian Research Center - Kurchatov Institute, Moscow, 123182, Russia

Abstract

An operating aqueous homogeneous reactor, the ARGUS at Kurchatov Institute, has been used to produce fission product molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), widely used in nuclear medicine to produce technetium-99m (Tc-99m). The Mo99 has been extracted from the sulfate solution using an organic sorbent after operation at 1 kW/liter. After purification, the material has been assayed and the result is well within required specification of the US Pharmacopaeia. Operation with LEU is planned to determine if any additional purification steps are required. Calculations are presented to show the sources and quantity of alpha activity when LEU is used.

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