Cyclotron Production of (99m)Tc using (100)Mo2C targets.

An investigative study of the (100)Mo (p,2n)(99m)Tc reaction on a medical cyclotron using (100)Mo2C is reported. This is the first report of this compound being used as a target for this reaction. (100)Mo2C, a refractory carbide with high thermal conductivity, properties which underscore its use on a cyclotron, was synthesized using (100)MoO3. Its ease of oxidation back to (100)MoO3 under air at elevated temperatures facilitates the use of thermo-chromatography, a high temperature gas phase separation technique for the separation and isolation of (99m)Tc. Activity yields for (99m)Tc averaged 84% of the calculated theoretical yields. Additionally, the percent recovery of MoO3, the precursor for Mo2C, was consistently high at 85% ensuring a good life cycle for this target material. The produced (99m)Tc was radio-chemically pure and easily labeled MDP for imaging purposes.