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

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[FDG]
production in a commercial radiopharmacy. Natural molybdenum targets in metal form
were employed for the production of Tc isotopes of interest via (n, ) reactions on 98Mo
and 100Mo. The production of 99mTc and 101Tc under these conditions is considered
and discussed.