The application of atomic layer deposition in the production of sorbents for 99Mo/99mTc generator

J.L.T.M Moret,J Alkemade,T.M Upcraft,E Oehlke,H.T Wolterbeek,J.R Van Ommen,A.G Denkova

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109266

J.L.T.M Moret, J Alkemade + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109266

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Abstract

New production routes for 99Mo are steadily gaining importance. However, the obtained specific activity is much lower than currently produced by the fission of U-235. To be able to supply hospitals with 99Mo/99mTc generators with the desired activity, the adsorption capacity of the column material should be increased. In this paper we have investigated whether the gas phase coating technique Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), which can deposit ultra-thin layers on high surface area materials, can be used to attain materials with high adsorption capacity for 99Mo. For this purpose, ALD was applied on a silica-core sorbent material to coat it with a thin layer of alumina. This sorbent material shows to have a maximum adsorption capacity of 120 mg/g and has a99mTc elution efficiency of 55 ± 2% based on 3 executive elutions.

Highlights

New production routes for 99Mo are steadily gaining importance
In this paper we have investigated whether the gas phase coating technique Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), which can deposit ultra-thin layers on high surface area materials, can be used to attain materials with high adsorption capacity for 99Mo
ALD is a versatile gas phase coating technique commonly used in the semi-conductor industry: many different substrates can be coated with a large number of different coatings (Miikkulainen et al, 2013; Puurunen, 2005)

Summary

Introduction

New production routes for 99Mo are steadily gaining importance. the obtained specific activity is much lower than currently produced by the fission of U-235. To be able to supply hospitals with 99Mo/99mTc generators with the desired activity, the adsorption capacity of the column material should be increased. The major drawbacks of uranium targets are that they produce large volumes of high activity (liquid) waste and that the production of 99Mo depends on only six nuclear research reactors worldwide (Association, 2014; IAEA, 2013; Pillai et al, 2013). In ALD these reactions are self-limiting, meaning when the surface is saturated the reaction stops (Miikkulainen et al, 2013; Puurunen, 2003) This cyclic approach allows for nano-control of the material deposited. After application of the alumina layer the adsorption capacity for Mo was determined and its potential to be used as sorbent material for a99Mo/99mTc radionuclide generator was assessed

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