Hybridised production of technetium-99m and technetium-101 with fluorine-18 on a low-energy biomedical cyclotron

Abstract New modes of production and supply of short-lived radioisotopes using accelerators are becoming attractive alternatives to the use of nuclear reactors. In this study, the use of a compact accelerator neutron source (CANS) was implemented to explore the production of 99mTc and 101Tc. Irradiations were performed with neutrons generated from a 16.5 MeV cyclotron utilising the 18O(p, n)18F reaction during routine 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) production in a commercial radiopharmacy. Natural molybdenum targets in metal form were employed for the production of several Tc isotopes interest via (n, γ) reactions on 98Mo and 100Mo. The production of 99mTc and 101Tc under these conditions is considered and discussed.