the smart project: accelerator based production …...mo-99m is used as a radioactive tracer in...
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Excellence dedicated to nuclear medicine, healthcare and environment
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February 7th, 2019
The SMART project: accelerator based production of Mo-99
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Institute for Radioelements
Public Utility Foundation
No shares – no shareholder – no distribution of dividends Assets belonging to the foundation itself Under the tutorship of the belgian Government (e.g. : Board
members appointed by the Government for 6 years)
200 employees (Including its subsidiary IRE Elit)
Missions
Contribute to public health
Major worldwide producer of Mo-99 Worldwide first producer of I-131 Outstanding performance
Environmental protection
Continuous investment for innovation, modernization and safetyimprovements
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Located in Belgium
Strategic location for logistic Transport
Research Reactors
Other companies on site: Gamma sterilization : STERIGENICS
Transport : TRANSRAD
Our Site
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IRE
IRE ELiT
Innovation centre
Radiochemical products
Mo-99, I-131, Xe-133 for
medical useNon-processed products
Radiopharmaceutical products
Ga-68, Re-188 (Recent approval of file for MA in 13
countries in EU for Ga-68)
What we do
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LightHouse
The LightHouse project: ASML development project for equipment for the production of Mo-
100(g,n)Mo-99
Nationaal Icoon for ASML end 2016
ASML :
• Lithography equipment manufacturer for the semi-conductor industry
• Developed a free electron laser to generate EUV light for their lithography machines. A free electron laser is based on an high energy electron beam
• Discovered in 2015 that their new high energy electron beam could also be used to produce the radioisotope Mo-99
• Accelerator for Mo100 (g,n) Mo-99 reaction Specific Activity: up to 250Ci/g
Existing generators could be used
Mo-99m is used as a radioactive tracer in medical imaging technology mainly for diagnoses (SPECT) in cardiology, oncology and neurology.
The LightHouse production method based on a high power superconductive linear electron accelerator.
A superconductive accelerator is innovative versus the “standard” endeavors with electron accelerators: it allows for the combination of high volume and high quality production.
This accelerator produces a high energy electron beam with a high current. The high energy electrons are stopped in the target and produce Bremsstrahlung (gamma-rays or γ-rays transmute Mo-100 into Mo-99).
SPECT scan High levels of Tc-99m in pelvis and axilla (red) showing areas of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Production of Mo-99 with super-conducting electron accelerator has potential to be at acceptable cost, Uranium free and to create limited waste
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Current production process with 50 year old reactors
Uranium target production
Reactor irradiation
Uranium target processing
GeneratorRadio-
Pharmacy /Hospital
Reactor Mo-99/Tc-99m production
Risk of proliferation
Aging reactors
Nuclear waste
Current production process with fission reactors
• Radio-isotopes (Mo-99/Tc-99m) are needed for cardiology or cancer diagnosis of 35 million people annually
• Reliability is of prime importance.
• Installation from early 70th
• New installations • Fission process
• Alternative process
Production process with accelerator using EUV-FEL modules
Uranium target production
Reactor irradiation
Uranium target processing
GeneratorRadio-
Pharmacy /Hospital
Reactor Mo-99/Tc-99m production
Mo-100 target production
Acceleratorirradiation
Mo-100 target processing
GeneratorRadio-
Pharmacy /Hospital
Accelerator Mo-99/Tc-99m production
Accelerator &Mo-100 target processing
(ASML)
Risk of proliferation
Aging reactors
Nuclear waste
No risk of proliferation
Innovative accelerator
Negligible waste
Production process with accelerator using EUV-FEL modules
Production process with accelerator using EUV-FEL modules
Uranium target production
Reactor irradiation
Uranium target processing
Reactor Mo-99/Tc-99m production
GeneratorRadio-
Pharmacy /Hospital
Mo-100 target production
Acceleratorirradiation
Mo-100 target processing
Accelerator Mo-99/Tc-99m production
Accelerator &Mo-100 target processing
(ASML)
Risk of proliferation
Aging reactors
Nuclear waste
No risk of proliferation
Innovative accelerator
Negligible waste
GeneratorRadio-
Pharmacy /Hospital
Production process with accelerator using EUV-FEL modules
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LightHouse
Partners and theirs roles ASML :
• World top in technology development - excellent innovators
• In charge for the technology development
– Development de technology and collaboration with specialists
– Concept Development of the concepts 2014-2016
– Lead System Architect
– System integration
IRE : leading the project
• World leader in radio-isotopes development, production and sales
• Market knowledge – final products and production technology
– Chemical processed development
– Evaluation of the current generators and the final product
– Building development
– Responsible for the different authorization processes
Let’s follow first an electron
• Electrons are released in the injector
• They are accelerated to 75 MeV in the super-conducting boosters
• The beam is split to approach the target from two sides
• In the exposure cell the high energy electrons are stopped in the Mo-100 target and produce Bremsstrahlung (gamma-rays or γ-rays) which transmute Mo-100 into Mo-99
• The target is cooled as the electrons create alsoa high thermal load on the target
• After exposure of the target during a week, part of the target is harvestedand processed to create the Active PharmaceuticalIngredient (API) Mo-99
Injector
Super-conductingboosters
Beam splitter
Exposure cell
Processcell
Cryo-plant
Life of an electron : from injector to API Mo-99
Injector
Super-conductingboosters
Beam splitter
Exposure cell
Processcell
• Bunches of electrons are released from the photo-cathode of the injector by laser pulses at a frequency of 1.3 GHz.
• These electron bunches are pulled away from the cathode by an electrostatic field of 350 kV.
• This results in a high brightness electron beam that has been demonstrated at more than 40 mA.
• This injector was built at CornellUniversity where it is now in operation.
Developed by
Cryo-plant
Injector: the source of the electrons
Injector
Beam splitter
Exposure cell
Processcell
Cavity
5 m
• A super-conducting booster allows for accelerating a large stream of electrons that is needed for high volume production of API Mo-99.
• Boosters are cooled with liquid Helium from a cryo-plant.
• Design of Cornell University
Developed by
Super-conductingboosters
Cryo-plant
Super-conducting Booster accelerates the electrons
Injector
Super-conductingboosters
Beam splitter
Exposure cell
Processcell
Beam B
Beam A
Beam B
Beam A
Developed by
• For high volume and high quality (Specific Activity) production of API Mo-99 it is proposed to expose the target from two sides. Therefore the beam is split.
• Both beams are transported towardsthe target by an achromatic arc.
• Fast scanning (1 MHz) over thetarget allows for uniformthermal load.
Cryo-plant
Beam splitter to expose target from both sides
Injector
Super-conductingboosters
Beam splitter
Exposure cell
Processcell
Developed by
Cryo-plant
Processcell
Exposurecell
The electron beam impacts on the target in the Exposure cell while API Mo-99 is prepared in the Process cell
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Project planning
Planning6 February 2019
Phase 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
1. Feasibility study
2. Forming consortium
3. Preparation:Risk mitigation,
4. Design & engineering
5. Manufacturing
6. Installation & commissioning
7. Pilot production
8. Commercial production
9. Install & com 2nd line 2026-2028
“feasible”
Technical Specs ready
Start commissioning
Supplier LOI signed
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Milestones“are we on track towards target?”
Milestones“are we on track towards target?”
Risk mitigatedOrganization in place
Risk assessment &de-FEL-inization
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Financing Risk mitigation
Start pilot production
Commercial production
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Questions / Discussion
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