Prediction of 94mTc production for positron emission tomography studies using the Monte Carlo code MCNPX-2.6

In this study, a Monte Carlo code was used to simulate a proton beam flux to calculate the 94mTc production yield from the 94Mo(p,n)94mTc reaction. An experimental yield of 3.465 GBq/μAh was measured for 48 min of irradiation at 1 μA. An estimated value of 3.048 GBq/μAh was calculated for the yield produced based on the MCNPX proton flux in the same situation. These results demonstrate the usefulness and precision of MCNPX as a tool to design targets for the production of PET radionuclides. The yield of isotopic impurities from the 94Mo(p,xn)94g, 93m, 93gTc reactions was also calculated by the MCNPX code.