(329d) Surface-Modified Alumina as a High Capacity Material of 99Mo/99mTc Generator Column

Surface-modified alumina has been
developed as a column material of (n,g) and (n,f) ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators. Technitium-99m (^99mTc, t1/2 = 6hr) is one of the most widely used diagnostic radioisotopes. This radionuclide is
normally extracted from a lead-shielded column
on which either (n, g)
or (n,f) ⁹⁹Mo is adsorbed. By utilizing the
differences of the chemical properties of these two isotopes, ^99mTc can be eluted regularly
from the loaded columns for
everyday uses. (n,g) ⁹⁹Mo can easily be obtained by a neutron irradiation from a research reactor. However, (n,g) ⁹⁹Mo contains mostly non-radioactive natural molybdenum. Hence, a
high capacity material, which adsorbs molybdenum several times more than the
adsorbents for (n,f) ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators is required. The developed material
from this study has approximately 217 mg/g of the uptake capacity.
In addition, the molybdenum loading process is as easy as a (n,f) ⁹⁹Mo
loading process. Hence, this material is useful enough for the production of (n,g) ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc
generator columns.