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DTRA’s advancements in nuclear and radiological detection
A new, more complex nuclear age has begun. Echoing the tensions of the Cold War amid rapidly evolving nuclear and radiological threats, preparedness in the modern age is a contest of scientific innovation. The Research and Development Directorate (RD) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is charged with winning this contest.
Ralph G. Bennett, Jerry D. Christian, David A. Petti, William K. Terry, S. Blaine Grover
Nuclear Technology | Volume 126 | Number 1 | April 1999 | Pages 102-121
Technical Paper | Radioisotopes | doi.org/10.13182/NT99-A2961
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A system has been developed for the production of 99mTc based on distributed electron accelerators and thermal separation. The radioactive decay parent of 99mTc, 99Mo, is produced from 100Mo by a photoneutron reaction. Two alternative thermal separation processes have been developed to extract 99mTc. Experiments have been performed to verify the technical feasibility of the production and assess the efficiency of the extraction processes. A system based on this technology enables the economical supply of 99mTc for a large nuclear pharmacy. Twenty such production centers distributed near major metropolitan areas could produce the entire U.S. supply of 99mTc at a cost less than the current subsidized price.