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Technology Breakthrough: Medical Isotopes from Low Grade Uranium

By Joel ScanlonDec 8 2010

A South African company has used low grade uranium to produce a medical isotope using new technology. This valuable isotope had until now only been produced from weapons grade uranium material.

Lantheus Medical is a private company which processes the material for medical tests. It received the large shipment of the medical isotope molybdenum-99 made from low-grade uranium developed by NTP Radioisotopes Ltd in South Africa.

Dr Robert Atcher, past president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and chairman of the group's Medical Isotope Task Force said that this would also negate the claim of Iran that it needed to produce enriched uranium for its medical isotopes. The shipment of medical isotopes has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Gary Samore, who oversees policy on weapons of mass destruction at the White House said that highly enriched uranium was needed a few years go to make the isotopes needed to diagnose and treat diseases. He also said that they were now able to make the isotopes now without using any sensitive nuclear material. He applauded the world leadership shown by South Africa in minimizing the use of highly enriched uranium.

Written by

Joel Scanlon

Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.

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Scanlon, Joel. (2019, March 19). Technology Breakthrough: Medical Isotopes from Low Grade Uranium. AZoMining. Retrieved on November 23, 2024 from https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=1949.
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Scanlon, Joel. "Technology Breakthrough: Medical Isotopes from Low Grade Uranium". AZoMining. 23 November 2024. <https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=1949>.
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Scanlon, Joel. "Technology Breakthrough: Medical Isotopes from Low Grade Uranium". AZoMining. https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=1949. (accessed November 23, 2024).
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Scanlon, Joel. 2019. Technology Breakthrough: Medical Isotopes from Low Grade Uranium. AZoMining, viewed 23 November 2024, https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=1949.