Spent 99Mo/99mTc generator as an economical source of 99Mo

An improved method for utilization and purification of 99Mo from spent 90Mo/99mTc generators has been described. After washing the generator with saline to remove the generated 99mTc, followed by 2 mL 5 M NaOH containing a few drops of H2O2, the 99Mo was quantitatively eluted from the generator with 5 mL 5 M NaOH. The alkaline eluate containing 99Mo was contaminated with partially dissolved alumina. In the present method, an anion-exchange resin Dowex 1 x 8 column was used for purification of 99Mo from the contaminating alumina. The resultant 99Mo was of high purity and contained < 1 μg Al3+/mL 99Mo solution, as estimated by atomic absorption. (author)