Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the 2005 International RERTR Meeting
RADIONUCLIDE
PURITY OF FISSION MO-99 PRODUCED FROM LEU AND HEU. A
COMPARATIVE STUDY
Adrián Durán
Radioisotopes and Radiations Program
National Atomic Energy Commission
Buenos Aires
República Argentina
Abstract
There is a huge concern around the world about the
use of highly enriched uranium to operate research
reactors and produce radioisotopes including Mo-99.
Therefore, the current policies seek to reduce uranium
enrichment. Argentina is one of the first countries all
over the world that has developed the technology to
produce fission Mo-99 from LEU targets, which has been
commercially available since 2002. The aim of this work
is to compare the radionuclide purity from several
batches of fission Mo-99 produced routinely in Argentina
from both LEU and HEU. This work characterizes some of
the most commonly found contaminants in Mo-99 batches.
Results form 28 HEU and 46 LEU batches of fission Mo-99
produced between 2002 (HEU) and 2003 (LEU) are
presented. A general improvement in the radionuclide
purity after the change from HEU to LEU targets has been
observed. Hence, the conclusion is that the radionuclide
quality of Mo-99 produced from LEU targets is as good as
with HEU ones and even better. It complies with all
commercial standards and has excellent acceptance in the
Argentine and regional market.
Contact: Dr. Jordi Roglans-Ribas
Technical Director, RERTR Department
Nuclear Engineering Division – 362
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 South Cass Avenue
Argonne, IL 60439
Fax: +1 630-252-5161
The 2016 International RERTR Meeting (RERTR-2016) will take place in Belgium.
Stay tuned for further details.
The 2015 International RERTR Meeting (RERTR-2015) took place in Seoul, Korea on Oct. 11-14, 2015.
For more information visit RERTR-2015.