IAEA Coordinated Research Project on Mo-99 Production Using LEU or Neutron Activation

Progress and Status

Ira N. Goldman, Natesan Ramamoorthy, Pablo Adelfang International Atomic Energy Agency 2007 RERTR International Meeting 24-27 September 2007 Prague, Czech Republic

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

Outline • • • • • • • • History Activities/Progress since RERTR 2006 2 nd RCM Outcome Training/Technical Support and Procurements Extrabudgetary Support Near-Term Plans Third Year Activities Conclusion

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

History

• • • • • • • February 2005 - CRP approved May 2005 - Potential Mo 99 Producer’s Workshop, Buenos Aires, Argentina December 2005 – 1 st RCM, Vienna, Austria March 2006 – Foil Targets Workshop, Serpong, Indonesia November 2006 - Papers/Side Meeting, RERTR Cape Town, South Africa November 2006 - Workshop on Operational Aspects of Mo 99 Production, Vienna, Austria April 2007 – 2 nd RCM, Bucharest and Pitesti, Romania

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

Progress/Activities since RERTR 2006 • • • • • • • • Glassware received late 2006/early 2007 ANSTO safety documentation distributed (early 2007).

IAEA participated in NAS study (Feb and June 2007).

Poster/paper at 17 th International Symposium on Radiopharmaceutical Sciences, Aachen, April/May 2007 Project website increasingly important tool with Chile, Libya, MURR and other technical reports posted.

New Research Agreement - POLATOM.

New Research Contract - Egypt LEU foils delivered from KAERI to Chile, Indonesia, and Romania (August 2007)

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

2 nd RCM in Romania • • • • • • • Reviewed status/progress of CRP participants activities.

Reviewed domestic nuclear medicine plans and Mo-99 requirements, to determine production targets.

Reviewed constraints, needs, arrangements for supply/technical assistance Discussed target analyses and thermal contact resistance.

Reviewed requirements for cGMP.

Conducted site visit to Pitesti and Maguerele.

Updated/revised work plan/action item list.

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

Training/Technical Assistance and Procurements • • • • • Libya - 5 fellowships/SVs on target preparation, processing, and waste management; laboratory equipment/supplies Chile - fellowship on Mo-99 production process; procurement of telemanipulators and aluminium 3033 tubes Poland - fellowship/SV on target assembly and disassembly Kazakhstan & Romania (Maguerele) - SV to India re: gel generators Indonesia – hot cell operations, visit to KAERI

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

Extrabudgetary Financial and Technical Support • • • • • • • DOE/GTRI: $205,000 – overall CRP support (contracts, meetings, procurements) Libya: $100,000 - national contribution (procurements, human resources) Norway: $15,000 – developing countries NTI – project management KAERI – NU and LEU foils AREVA/CERCA – technical expertise ANSTO – target safety documentation

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

Planned Near-Term Activities

• • • • • • Provision of foil to Libya, MURR, Poland and technical assistance for foil production to Pakistan Cold assembly, testing, and disassembly (with assembled cutter) of targets (NU and LEU). Prepare and cold test hot cells for processing. Submit safety analysis reports to regulators.

Develop QA/QC procedures.

IAEA to continue to participate in NAS meetings.

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

Third Year Activities

• • • • • • • Irradiation of LEU targets and processing of hot targets (early 2008).

Irradiation of Mo oxide and preparation of ‘moly Mo-99 gel powder for gel column generators. 3 rd RCM (Chile or MURR) fall 2008 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.

Document/publish results

RERTR 2007 IAEA Mo-99 CRP

Conclusion

• • • • • Good overall progress, participants have shown commitment and creativity.

Substantial amount of work still required to carry out LEU target irradiation and processing.

Major producers supported November 2006 workshop but have been largely absent since then.

Appreciation to supporters (U.S. DOE, Norway, NTI, KAERI, CERCA, ANSTO).

Project likely to be extended beyond initial 3-year plan.