An alternative route for the preparation of the medical isotope 99Mo from the 238U(γ, f) and 100Mo(γ, n) reactions

Abstract

The radionuclide 99Mo, which has a half-life of 65.94 h was produced from 238U(γ, f) and 100Mo(γ, n) reactions using a 10 MeV electron linac at EBC, Kharghar Navi-Mumbai, India. This has been investigated since the daughter product 99mTc is very important from a medical point of view and can be produced in a generator from the parent 99Mo. The activity of 99Mo was analyzed by a γ-ray spectrometric technique using a HPGe detector. From the detected γ-rays activity of 140.5 and 739.8 keV, the amount of 99Mo produced was determined. For comparison, the amount of 99Mo from 238U(γ, f) and 100Mo(γ, n) reactions was also estimated using the experimental photon flux from 197Au(γ, n)196Au reaction. The amount of 99Mo from the detected γ-lines is in agreement with the estimated value for 238U(γ, f) and 100Mo(γ, n) reactions. The production of 99Mo activity from 238U(γ, f) and 100Mo(γ, n) reactions is a relevant and novel approach, which provides alternative routes to 235,238U(n, f) and 98Mo(n, γ) reactions, circumventing the need for a reactor. The viability and practicality of the 99Mo production from the 238U(γ, f) and 100Mo(γ, n) reactions alternative to 235,238U(n, f) and 98Mo(n, γ) reactions has been emphasize. An estimate has been also arrived based on the experimental data of present work to fulfill the requirement of DOE.