Experiences with technetium-99m production

This paper summarizes the experiments undertaken by PAEC scientists on the production of Mo-99 which is subsequently loaded into a generator column from which the 6-hour Tc 99m is eluted. The production methods involving (n, fission) on uranium oxide and recoil techniques on molybdenum trioxide intimately mixed with benzoic acid and ammonium molybdate also with benzoic acid as catcher respectively, as described. Separation and loading of the Mo-99 from each method is also described. The performance of the generator prepared from the separated Mo-99 is investigated for the two methods and elution curves are shown. Two methods of preparing Tc-99m sulfur colloid (TSC) one in kit form and the other as labelled compound are likewise described. (Auth.) 14 refs.; 4 figs