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Table 3 99mTc production pathways

From: Production of novel diagnostic radionuclides in small medical cyclotrons

Reaction

Method

Currently available

Status and further development

235U(n,f)99Mo → 99mTc

Reactor + generator

Worldwide

Well-established, availability will shrink with phasing out of nuclear research reactors

100Mo(p,2n)99mTc

Small medical or intermediate energy cyclotron

In Canada

Possible worldwide implementation with decreasing nuclear reactor capacity

96Zr(α,n)99Mo → 99mTc

α beam cyclotron + generator

No

Will not be implemented. Method not competitive, α-beam required, low yields

100Mo(γ,n)99Mo → 99mTc

LINAC+ generator

No

Under development in Canada, USA and the Netherlands

98Mo(n,γ)99Mo → 99mTc

Reactor + generator

In USA and Japan

Auxiliary method used in nuclear reactors (Blaauw et al., 2017; van der Marck, Koning, and Charlton, 2010). Availability will shrink with phasing out of nuclear research reactors

100Mo(p,2n)99mTc

Laser

No

Theoretically feasible. Further research required