Medical Isotope Production Without Highly Enriched Uranium
2009

Consensus

You must be logged in to download this publication.

Select Book Type

Paperback - $58.50
Ebook - $49.49

See project
Request an exam or desk copy

This book is the product of a congressionally mandated study to examine the feasibility of eliminating the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU2) in reactor fuel, reactor targets, and medical isotope production facilities. The book focuses primarily on the use of HEU for the production of the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), whose decay product, technetium-99m3 (Tc-99m), is used in the majority of medical diagnostic imaging procedures in the United States, and secondarily on the use of HEU for research and test reactor fuel.
The supply of Mo-99 in the U.S. is likely to be unreliable until newer production sources come online. The reliability of the current supply system is an important medical isotope concern; this book concludes that achieving a cost difference of less than 10 percent in facilities that will need to convert from HEU- to LEU-based Mo-99 production is much less important than is reliability of supply.

Publication information

220 pages · 6 x 9 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-13039-5
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-13040-9
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/12569

Suggested citation

National Research Council. 2009. Medical Isotope Production Without Highly Enriched Uranium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Import this citation to:

Bibtext
EndNote
Reference manager

First Name
Last Name
Email (required)
I agree to receive emails from the National Academies (required)

We respect your privacy and will never share your information.

Search this publication

Front Matter i-xviii
Summary 1-6
1 Background and Study Task 7-15
2 Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m Production and Use 16-30
3 Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m Supply 31-54
4 Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m Supply Reliability 55-65
5 Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m Demand 66-79
6 Molybdenum-99/Technetium-99m Production Costs 80-89
7 Conversion to LEU-Based Production of Molybdenum-99: Technical Considerations 90-100
8 Conversion to LEU-Based Production of Molybdenum-99: Regulatory Considerations 101-107
9 Conversion to LEU-Based Production of Molybdenum-99: General Approaches and Timing 108-113
10 Conversion to LEU-Based Production of Molybdenum-99: Prospects and Feasibility 114-141
11 Progress in Eliminating HEU Use 142-162
References 163-168
Appendix A: Section 630 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 169-172
Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members 173-180
Appendix C: Presentations and Visits 181-183
Appendix D: Alternative Molybdenum-99 Production Processes 184-189
Appendix E: Correspondence with Atomic Energy of Canada Limited 190-193
Appendix F: Present Value Calculation 194-195
Appendix G: Glossary 196-199
Appendix H: Acronyms 200-202

Log In

Former MyNAP users: You'll need to reset your password on your first login to MyAcademies. Click "Forgot password" below to receive a reset link via email. Having trouble? Visit our FAQ page to contact support.

Members of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, or National Academy of Medicine should log in through their respective Academy portals.

Email (required)
Password (required)

Don't have an account?

Register

Email (required)
New password (required)
Retype password (required) Password must be at least 8 characters
I accept the terms of use
terms of use

Thank You

Thank you for creating a MyAcademies account!

Enjoy free access to thousands of National Academies' publications, a 10% discount off every purchase, and build your personal library.

Forgot Password

Enter the email address for your MyAcademies (formerly MyNAP) account to receive password reset instructions.

Email (required)

Reset Requested

We sent password reset instructions to your email . Follow the link in that email to create a new password. Didn't receive it? Check your spam folder or contact us for assistance.

Reset Password

New password (required)
Retype password (required) Password must be at least 8 characters

Reset Password

Your password has been reset.

Verify email

Verify Your Email Address

We sent a verification link to your email. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) and follow the link to verify your email address. If you did not receive the email, you can request a new verification link below

Medical Isotope Production Without Highly Enriched Uranium (2009)

Chapter: Appendix G: Glossary

Publication information

Suggested citation

My Academies

Medical Isotope Production Without Highly Enriched Uranium (2009)

Chapter: Appendix G: Glossary