Recycling 100Mo for direct production of 99mTc on medical cyclotrons
Abstract
A scalable recycling technique for the recovery of 100Mo from previously irradiated and chemically processed targets is described. A combined process for both Cu and Ta supported targets and the respective `waste' solutions has been developed. This process involves selectively dissolving Cu target backings from undissolved portions of 100Mo pellets; precipitating Cu(OH)2 at pH 9; electrochemical removal of Cu traces; precipitating (NH4)2MoO4 at pH 2.5-3; thermally decomposing (NH4)2MoO4; and H2 reduction of MoO3 to Mo metal. Radionuclidic decontamination by a factor of 100 is observed, while overall 100Mo recovery from initial target plating to recycled Mo metal of 96% is achieved.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the 28th World Conference of the International Nuclear Target Development Society (INTDS2016)
- Pub Date:
- May 2018
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.5035531
- Bibcode:
- 2018AIPC.1962c0014K