Speaker
Description
Global demand for lutetium-177 has risen sharply with the gain in prominence for the targeted treatment of advanced neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer, both of which are treated with specially formulated radiotherapeutics. Lutetium-177 is a beta-emitting radionuclide historically produced by direct neutron irradiation of the long-lived radioisotope lutetium-176. Increasingly, lutetium-177 is now predominantly produced by neutron irradiation of the stable isotope ytterbium-176 as a preferable route to avoid the co-production of lutetium-177m and also to produce a 'carrier-free' lutetium-177 product. While these two production routes are well established, the increase in global conflicts has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the once reliable supply of stable ytterbium-176. To ensure a stable supply chain, Kinectrics Canada has chosen the more established method of electromagnetic isotope separation (EMIS) to produce ytterbium-176. This paper provides a high-level overview of Kinectrics’ experience in the commercial production of highly enriched, chemically pure ytterbium-176. From the perspective of modelling, specific attention is given to the challenges faced when designing and commissioning a next generation EMIS system.
| Classification | Isotope production, target, and ion source techniques |
|---|
