Bruce Nuclear Power Plant could start producing medical isotopes in 2022
Isogen, a joint venture formed by France’s Framatome and Canada-based Kinectrics, is completing the final phase of engineering, testing and design for a mockup of an isotope production system for the eight-unit Bruce nuclear power station in Ontario, Canada.
Once testing and engineering are complete, the team will begin building the systems. Framatome’s facility will also serve as a training site for Bruce Power employees. Isotope production is expected to begin in 2022, pending regulatory and other approvals.
The Isogen team is providing and supporting isotope production systems for the Bruce reactors to generate lutetium-177, a medical isotope that is used for a variety of cancer treatments.
Bruce reactors will be producing lutetium-177, a medical isotope used for cancer treatments
Lutetium-177 is produced by exposing ytterbium-176 to radiation. The ytterbium-176 source material is sealed in special containers and placed in an isotope production system in one of the Bruce Power reactors for about two weeks. The resulting containers of lutetium-177 are sent for processing and distribution to health care facilities.
Isogen will design, supply and support the licensing of the isotope production system to support large-scale production of lutetium-177. Isotopen Technologien München (ITM), a Germany-based specialised radiopharmaceutical company, will deliver the ytterbium-176 to the Bruce Power site. Isogen will be responsible for handling and preparing the source material according to ITM requirements
Source: NucNet
