Non-HEU production technologies for Molybdenum-99 and Technetium-99m

Technetium-99m (99mTc) is used in approximately 85% of diagnostic imaging procedures in nuclear medicine worldwide. Interruptions in the supply of Molybdenum (99Mo), which is used to produce 99mTc, prompted governments and international agencies to step up efforts to identify both short- and long-term solutions to supply shortages. These calls for actions resulted in economic and technology studies on the 99Mo supply chain. The present publication supports global efforts to eliminate the civilian use of highly enriched uranium in 99Mo/99Tc production and proposes several alternative/supplementary technologies.