Estimation of ⁴⁷Sc and ¹⁷⁷Lu production rates from their natural targets in Kyoto University Research Reactor

To assess the capability of Kyoto University Research Reactor to supply the domestic needs of medical isotopes, its neutron flux has been fully characterized. The production rates of theranostics radionuclides ¹⁷⁷Lu (from ¹⁷⁶Lu (n, γ) ¹⁷⁷Lu), ¹⁷⁶Lu (n, γ) ^177mLu/¹⁷⁷Lu and ¹⁷⁶Yb (n, γ) ¹⁷⁷Yb⟶β^-(1.88hr)¹⁷⁷Lu reactions), and ⁴⁷Sc (from ⁴⁶Ca (n, γ) ⁴⁷Ca⟶β^-(4.54d)⁴⁷Sc and Ti (n, p) ⁴⁷Sc) were evaluated. The activity (per gram of target) of ⁴⁷Sc produced from Ti was found to be 10 times higher than that produced from Ca. Production of ¹⁷⁷Lu from the decay of its isomer ^177mLu was found to be produce less radioactive wastes than Yb route and can be used as a generator for long-time use. (author)