. "7 Conversion to LEU-Based Production of Molybdenum-99: Technical Considerations." Medical Isotope Production Without Highly Enriched Uranium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2009.
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Medical Isotope Production without Highly Enriched Uranium
production. However, such scale-up could require additional investments in facilities and personnel.
There is no single “best” approach for conversion: Each producer must choose a conversion path based on its own assessment of cost, time, and technical practicability. There are opportunities for modifying current target or process designs that would allow producers to convert within their existing facilities.
R&D will be essential for making wise selections about conversion approaches. Most of the needed R&D can be carried out using cold testing and radioactive tracer testing at full scale and at relatively low cost in conventional laboratory facilities. Except for some specific testing needs, access to expensive hot cell facilities would not be required.
Based on the information presented to it by producers, the committee did not see any evidence that such R&D was being carried out.
Additional information about the prospects for conversion for existing HEU-based Mo-99 producers is provided in Chapter 10.
