{sup 99m}Tc generators for clinical use based on zirconium molybdate gel and (n, gamma) produced {sup 99}Mo: Indian experience in the development and deployment of indigenous technology and processing facilities
- Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), BARC Vashi Complex, Navi Mumbai 400705 (India)
- Radiochemistry and Isotope Group, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai 400085 (India)
- Division of Physical and Chemical Sciences, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), A-1400 Vienna (Austria)
The Indian pursuit of gel generator technology for {sup 99m}Tc was driven mainly by three considerations, namely, (i) well-established and ease of reliable production of (n, gamma)-based {sup 99}Mo in several tens of GBq quantities in the research reactors in Trombay/Mumbai, India, (ii) need for relatively low-cost alternate technology to replace the solvent (MEK) extraction generator system in use in India since 1970s and (iii) minimize dependency on weekly import of fission-produced {sup 99}Mo raw material required for alumina column generator. Extensive investigations on process standardisation for zirconium molybdate gel (ZMG) led to a steady progress, achieved both in terms of process technology and final performance of {sup 99m}Tc gel generators. The {sup 99m}Tc final product purity from the Indian gel system was comparable to that obtained from the gold-standard alumina column generators. Based on the feasibility established for reliable small-scale production, as well as satisfactory clinical experience with a number of gel generators used in collaborating hospital radiopharmacies, full-fledged mechanised processing facilities for handling up to 150 g of ZMG were set up. The indigenous design and development included setting up of shielded plant facilities with pneumatic-driven as well as manual controls and special gadgets such as, microwave heating of the zirconium molybdate cake, dispenser for gel granules, loading of gel columns into pre-assembled generator housing etc. Formal review of the safety features was carried out by the regulatory body and stage-wise clearance for processing low and medium level {sup 99}Mo activity was granted. Starting from around 70 GBq {sup 99}Mo handling, the processing facilities have since been successfully operated at a level of 740 GBq {sup 99}Mo, twice a month. In all 18 batches of gel have been processed and 156 generators produced. The individual generator capacity was 15 to 30 GBq with an elution yield of nearly 75%. 129 generators were supplied to 11 user hospitals and the estimated number of clinical studies done is well over 5000. The salient aspects of the Indian experience have been reported in many a forum and shared with the IAEA through the on-going CRP. The detailed process know-how is available for technology transfer from BRIT, India. (author)
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering Division, RERTR Department, Argonne, IL (United States); Czech Technical University, Prague (Czech Republic)
- OSTI ID:
- 21113554
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-08N0001; TRN: US08N0076121092
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: RERTR-2007: 29. international meeting on reduced enrichment for research and test reactors, Prague (Czech Republic), 23-27 Sep 2007; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); 25 refs, 3 figs; Related Information: In: 2007 international meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR). Abstracts and available papers presented at the meeting, vp.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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