Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2000 International RERTR Meeting

Low Enrichment Mo-99 Target Development Program at ANSTO

Therese M. Donlevy1, Peter J. Anderson, Greg Storr, Guan Yeoh, David Beattie, Michael Deura, David Wassink, Ben Braddock, William Chant.

Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Private Mail Bag 1, Menai 2234, New South Wales, Australia.

¹ Correspondence to Dr Therese Donlevy, Mo-99 Project Leader, Tel +612 97173225, email: tdx@ansto.gov.au

Abstract

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO, formerly AAEC) has been producing fission product Mo-99 in HIFAR, from the irradiation of LEU UO2 targets, for nearly thirty years. Over this period, the U-235 enrichment has been increased in stages, from natural to 1.8% then finally to 2.2%. The decision to provide Australia with a replacement research reactor (RRR) for HIFAR has created an ideal opportunity to review and improve the current Mo-99 production process, right from target design through to chemical processing and waste management.

The major focus at this point in time is the development of a LEU target, initially suitable for irradiation in HIFAR and, with subsequent modification, suitable for irradiation in the RRR. We have entered into collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory (RERTR) to develop such a target using uranium metal foil with U-235 enrichment of less than 20%. The first trial irradiation of this target is planned in December 2000 and it will be processed using the current Mo-99 production process at ANSTO. The review of this trial will determine the program for further irradiations.

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