Abstract:
The medical isotope test reactor that utilizes uranyl nitrate solution as its fuel source has certain advantages when it comes to the production of
99Mo. This method has emerged as an important developmental direction for the generation of medical isotopes. Low-enriched uranium fuel is the trend of research reactor development, and the
99Mo separation process of the medical isotope test reactor under low-enriched uranium conditions is crucial. In this study, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the
99Mo separation and purification process using a medical isotope test reactor that utilizes low-enriched uranium fuel. The research primarily focused on the development and optimization of a novel method involving a combination of spherical alumina columns, an α-benzoin oxime column, and an activated carbon column. The outcomes of this research are promising, as the combination of these three columns facilitated an effective extraction, separation, and purification of
99Mo. Moreover, through the production verification of the separation of Mo in the low-enriched uranium simulated fuel solution by using this process, the recovery rate of Mo is 75.7%, and the impurities also meet the requirements. This process improves the production rate of
99Mo of the medical isotope test reactor under low-enriched uranium fuel conditions, lays a foundation for the low-enrichment of the medical isotope test reactor, and has great application value.