Reactor physics calculations for 99Mo production at the annular core research reactor

The Isotope Production and Distribution Program at the U.S. Department of Energy has designated Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) as the most appropriate facility for the production of 99Mo, a radioisotope whose daughter, 99mTc, is used in more than 36,000 medical procedures per day in the United States and is considered to be a vital medical diagnostic and treatment tool. The isotope would be produced at SNL using the annular core research reactor (ACRR) facility and collocated hot cell facility. The 99Mo would be produced using the fission process by irradiating open-quotes targetsclose quotes coated with 235U in the form of highly enriched U3O8. After ∼7 days of continuous irradiation in the ACRR, a target would be re- moved from the reactor core for processing. The isotope would be extracted by chemically precipitating the molybdenum using the open-quotes Cintichemclose quotes process and would be shipped to the various pharmaceutical companies by commercial or chartered airline