Advancing Nuclear Medicine
Molybdenum-99
The world’s largest producer of irradiated targets for Mo-99 production.
Complete supply chain in one location, unique in Europe
Europe’s only production process using low enriched uranium (LEU)
Which solutions does Mo-99 offer?
The isotope Mo-99 is an element used in the production of technetium-99m (Tc-99m). Tc-99m is used in research into a multitude of ailments. Roughly 85% of medical imaging in nuclear medicine uses this isotope (Tc-99m). Globally, this amounts to 17 million diagnostic procedures per year. Below is a selection of these.
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More information about Molybdenum-99?
Marjolijn Droog
Business manager Isotopes
Application of molybdenum-99
Molybdenum-99
Irradiation knowledge and expertise
We are the world leader regarding the irradiation of Mo-99 targets. These are aluminum plates containing low enriched uranium. During irradiation of these plates in the reactor, uranium is split by so-called fission, a process in which molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) is formed. Our customers then extract the Mo-99 from the targets with a chemical process. Ultimately, hospitals will receive so-called generators for technetium-99m (Tc-99m), which is derived from Mo-99, an important raw material for medical research.
Furthermore, we have a unique infrastructure in Petten. The site is located conveniently near international transportation routes. Our clients have an international nuclear pharmaceutical network with thousands of hospitals in about 100 countries. This is how medical isotopes produced in Petten find their way to 30.000 (cancer)patients every day.
Molybdenum Production Facility (MPF)
- One of the world’s largest radio-chemical production facilities for nuclear medicine
- Optimal removal of uranium and other residual products, which relieves Curium.
- Management and licensing by NRG; Curium carries out the separation process that extracts the Mo-99
Production of molybdenum-99 with low enriched uranium (LEU)
- The first site in Europe using only LEU for the production of Mo-99
- Complex, time consuming project executed in cooperation with business partner Curium
- NRG and Curium satisfy the requirements to meet with the non-proliferation promise, which was done to Barack Obama
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Production of xenon-133 (Xe-133) with low enriched uranium
- Radioactive Xe-133 is derived from Mo-99 during production
- Xe-133 is used for examination of long functions and cerebral blood flow
- Complex, time consuming project executed in cooperation with business partner Curium
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