The derivation of a specification for fission-produced molybdenum-99 for the preparation of AAEC (autoclaved) MK II B 99Mo/99m Tc generators.

Abstract

Technetium-99m eluates are shown to contain significantly lower levels of radionuclidic impurities than the parent 99 Mo feed solution. It is well established that alumina absorption of 99 Mo followed by saline elution of 99m Tc leads to a considerable overall decontamination effect. This decontamination factor (DF) is defined as the ratio of radionuclidic impurities in the 99 Mo feed solution to radionuclidic impurities in the eluted 99m Tc. Impurity measurements were made on samples of fission product 99m Mo feed solutions and 99m Tc eluates from nominal 20 GBq and 150 GBq AAEC (autoclaved) Mk IIB generators. Minimum DFs were obtained which were then used to derive radionuclidic purity criteria for 99 Mo to satisfy the requirements of the British Pharmacopoeia.