Producing Molybdenum-99 in CANDU Reactors

This paper discusses the recent problems with Canadian supply of molybdenum-99 for medical diagnostic scanning. It proposes an alternate method that exploits the on-power refueling capability of CANDU reactors to produce large amounts of Mo-99. An extraction and refining plant near the used fuel bay of a multi-reactor station could process one standard fuel bundle per day (after irradiation for 5 days). This method avoids using enriched uranium. The plant might cost less than 50 million dollars and be constructed within several years. The radioactive residue would be managed in conjunction with the existing methods of used fuel management.