1. The IAEA Coordinated Research Project Molybdenum-99 Production Using LEU Fission or Neutron Activation (T1.20.18) Ira N. Goldman, Natesan Ramamoorthy, Pablo Adelfang International Atomic Energy Agency 2006 RERTR International Meeting 29 October - 3 November 2006 Cape Town, South Africa

2. CRP on Mo99 Production LEU / NA Background Most Mo99 is currently produced with HEU. Efforts to shift production of medical isotopes away from use of HEU (thru RERTR). Some member states are seeking to become small scale, indigenous producers of Mo99 Encourage and provide access to LEU technology or neutron activation (NA) methods as HEU no longer available or accepted.

3. CRP on Mo99 Production LEU / NA CRP CRPs: research institutes in developing and developed Member States collaborate. Encourage dissemination of new knowledge involving nuclear/isotopic techniques. IAEA acts as sponsoring and coordinating body for research carried out by selected institutions. 4000 Euro per contract per year and support for participation in RCM. Additional training activities as EB funds permit.

4. CRP on Mo99 Production LEU / NA History November 2004 - Consultants Meeting February 2005 - CRP approved May 2005 - Potential Mo99 Producer’s Workshop, Buenos Aires September 2005 – Contracts/Agreements approved December 2005 – 1 st Research Coordination Meeting, Vienna March 2006 – Foil Targets Workshop, Serpong, Indonesia

5. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA Objectives Assist member states with adoption of LEU Cintichem (foil targets) or neutron activation (gel moly) technology. Further demonstrate efficacy of LEU production of Mo99 Advance intl non-proliferation and nuclear security objectives, promote sustainable development. Foster capacity building for local/regional self-sufficiency to meet Mo99 needs NOT aimed at existing large-scale producers (but they are participating/contributing)

6. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA Purpose Assist recipients to research, test, and evaluate: - LEU modified Cintichem process with LEU foil targets -Neutron activation of natural molybdenum oxide targets and utilization of gel generators. Disseminate information on Mo99 production using LEU foil targets or gel generators obtained from experimental evaluation of the technologies.

7. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA Output Participants will obtain necessary know-how for small-scale production using transferred LEU/ NA technologies. Technology transfer will address all steps: target preparation, irradiation, radiochemical processing, safety, waste management, quality control, and quality assurance.

8. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA Research Contracts Chile: LEU modified Cintichem w/foil targets Kazakhstan: gel generators Libya: LEU modified Cintichem w/foil targets Pakistan: LEU modified Cintichem w/foil targets Romania (IFIN-HH): gel generators Romania (Pitesti): LEU modified Cintichem w/foil targets

9. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA Research Agreements Argentina: LEU fission moly implementation Republic of Korea: development of LEU foil targets India: standardization of gel generators and feasibility of fission moly. Indonesia: development of LEU foil targets U.S. (ANL): LEU-modified Cintichem foil targets technology transfer U.S. (U. Missouri MURR):LEU-modified Cintichem foil targets; requirements for FDA approval of LEU-produced Mo-99

10. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA First RCM 11-14 December 2005, Vienna Individual country workplans reviewed and revised. Coordinated activities and experimental program established. Necessary materials and expertise specified. Actions and milestones established. Project website initiated after first RCM

11. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA LEU Foil Workshop, 6-10 March 2006, Serpong, Indonesia Lectures and facility visits Foil preparation, target fabrication, assembly and disassembly, irradiated target processing ANL lecturers, BATAN personnel facility demonstrations. Based upon U.S. DOE – Indonesia bilateral cooperation program

12. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA

17. Provision of Materials Aluminum tubing shipped from ANL (03/06). KAERI agreed to supply test foils. IAEA review of legal requirements for transfers. Discussions with other foil supplier (CERCA). Glassware procured by IAEA with DOE funding (shipment 12/06). Receipt of DU, NU, LEU foils (Winter/07).

18. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA Commercial Industry Involvement Major Mo-99 producers observers at 1 st RCM Major producers agreed to support Nov. 2006 workshop (lecturers) CERCA, BWXT also to participate Possible test foils from CERCA

19. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA 28 November – 1 December 2006, Vienna Workshop on Operational Aspects of Mo-99 Production Lectures on: - target plate manufacture, foil target production -target irradiation -irradiated plate processing -logistics, storage, and transportation -environmental and waste management -quality management -physical protection/security Lecturers from BWXT, CERCA, KAERI, MDS Nordion, NECSA, NRG Petten. Tyco Health Care Supported with DOE funding

20. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA Second Year Activities Completion of calculations for target irradiation (12/06). Finalize and submit safety analysis reports (12/06). Finalize irradiation rig and target designs. Cold assembly, testing, and disassembly of targets (NU, DU, later LEU) Finalize procedures and protocols, including process facilities, quality control and assurance. Second Research Coordination Meeting (RCM), Bucharest (16-20 April 2007, tentative).

21. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU / NA Third Year/Future Activities Irradiation of LEU targets (12/07) and processing of hot targets (02/08) Irradiation of Mo oxide and preparation of ‘moly Mo-99 gel’ powder for gel column generators Compare, assess, and interpret results, provide follow-up, and suggest adaptive changes Review compliance with specifications and purity requirements. Make modifications to improve future efforts. Publish Agency TECDOC on the final results

22. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA Conclusions (1) CRP has had a good start in the first year: 1. calculational work and other prep activities for fission moly have progressed in each country, 2. gel moly experiments and gel generator trial productin carried out; additional analysis work underway 3. aluminium tubing supplied, glassware by early 2007, 4. arrangements for foil are falling into place, 1 st quarter 2007 5. two workshops/training held, including one in cooperation with Mo-99 industry

23. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA Conclusions (2) Papers later in this session by Chile and Romania (Pitesti) will describe their specific progress in fission moly work. India completed commissioning production facility for gel generators, limited supply now to hospital radiopharms. Some activities are behind schedule Plan to hold a technical training workshop for gel moly group Work remains to be done to achieve irradiation and processing at end of 2007/beginning of 2008

24. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA Conclusions (3) CRP directly supportive of RERTR objectives. Will help build experience, consensus on use of (a) LEU for Mo-99 production and (b) gel generator option using NA produced Mo-99. Results and experience gained will help strengthen local capability for undertaking small scale Mo-99 production in participant countries. Facilitate enhanced utilization of research reactors by local production of radioisotopes

25. CRP - Mo99 Production LEU/NA THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!!