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 longterm solutions to supply shortages. These calls for action resulted in economic and technology studies on the 99Mo supply chain. The present publication supports global efforts to eliminate the civilian use of enriched uranium in 99Mo/99mTc production and proposes several alternative or supplementary technologies.