Japan Atomic Energy Agency : Press Releases

Success in Mo recycle system for remote control from Mo generator materials for Mo-99 production by (n,γ) method

Jun. 17, 2011

Key points

Success in the development of Mo recycling techniques, which can be manipulated remotely in the hot cell
A prospect of recycling of raw materials by recycling Mo and stable supply of Mo was obtained
Domestic production of Mo-99 production is expected to achieve by using the JMTR

JAEA and Taiyo Koko Corporation have succeeded to developed Mo recycle system for remote control from Mo generator materials for Mo-99 production by (n,γ) method. The present result encourages not only Mo recycle from generator materials but also reduction of used-generator materials.

For the development of domestic production, it is necessary to use the enriched ⁹⁸MoO₃, which is very expensive, in order to get high specific activity of Mo-99. Used-Mo generator has still contains a large amount of Mo-98 due to inefficient nuclear transmutation. JAEA and Taiyo Koko proposed to recover molybdenum from the used-Mo generator materials for an effective use of resources and reduction of radioactive wastes. Preliminary experiments of Mo recycling using with un-irradiated MoO₃ were carried out by the elution method and sublimation method. From the results, Mo recovery rate from the Mo generator materials was more than 95% by both methods. The prospects for Mo recycle and reductions of radioactive wastes using these methods were obtained.

[ BACK ]