nuclear-news

Synchrotron for medical isotopes – no need for nuclear reactor

The NRC says the new method doesn’t pose any security or nuclear proliferation concerns because, unlike a nuclear reactor, it requires no weapons-grade uranium.

Sask. synchrotron to make medical isotopes, CBC News -, 24 Jan 2011, Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are looking at using the synchrotron to develop medical isotopes without a nuclear reactor.A group at the Saskatoon-based university announced Monday that the synchrotron — known as the Canadian Light Source — will be one of four projects around Canada receiving part of a $35-million federal fund………

According to the NRC, which is backing the synchrotron demonstration project, it will look at the feasibility of using an electron linear accelerator to produce molybdenum-99, which is the “parent isotope” of technetium-99m — a mainstay of nuclear medicine.

The NRC says the new method doesn’t pose any security or nuclear proliferation concerns because, unlike a nuclear reactor, it requires no weapons-grade uranium.

The synchtron located on the U of S campus, uses powerful beams of focused light to examine matter on the atomic level.

CBC News – Health – Sask. synchrotron to make medical isotopes

January 27, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, health, technology