Report of
FNCA 2022 Workshop on Research Reactor Utilization Project

FY2022 FNCA Workshop on Research Reactor Utilization (RRU) project (Hybrid) was held from November 22 to 24, 2022, in Mito/Tokai, Japan. This Workshop was hosted by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan.

The Workshop was attended by 38 participants in person and online from 12 FNCA member countries, namely Australia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, including workshop staffs.

[Workshop]

The first half of the first day (Nov. 22) was allocated to plenary session. The welcome address by Mr. Obata Ryoji, MEXT, and the opening remarks by Mr. Wada Tomoaki, FNCA Coordinator of Japan, were delivered. The individual project leaders of Japan, Dr. Ohtsuki Tsutomu and Dr. Ebihara Mitsuru, overviewed the current projects of RRU and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) and referred to several major issues of the workshop.

Then, in the RRU sessions, after the compilation of the country report that included the updates on radioisotopes (RIs) production was presented, SMR, new research reactor, RI production, neutron scattering were presented sequentially by individual participating countries. In the NAA sessions, each country presented the progress on the environmental monitoring with multiple measurement techniques including NAA, then discussed a number of topics. The detailed contents were summarized in each of the two groups, RRU and NAA.

[Technical Visit]

On the third day (Nov. 24), participants of FNCA workshop visited the Nuclear Science Research Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), such as JRR-3 beam hall.

Summary of
FNCA 2022 Workshop on Research Reactor Utilization Project

Preface

The Research Reactor Utilization (RRU) hybrid workshop was held over three days in Mito-city and Tokai-mura, Ibaraki pref., Japan. The first half on the first day (Nov. 22) was allocated to a plenary session in which the individual project leaders of Japan provided an overview of the current projects of RRU group and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) group with referring to several major issues of the workshop. Parallel sessions were held from the second half of the first day to the second day (Nov. 23). In the RRU sessions, the compilation of the country report that included the updates on radioisotopes (RIs) production was firstly presented. Next, new research reactor including SMR system, neutron scattering were presented sequentially by individual participating countries. In the NAA sessions, each country presented progress on the activities related to air pollution and mineral resources and then discussed a number of topics, including linkages with end-users. The detailed content of the discussions was summarized for each of the two groups, RRU and NAA, and we shared each summary in the wrap up session. On the third day (Nov. 24), the technical visit to JRR-3 was held in the morning.

Parallel session

RRU-1: Country report summary on RIs production including new isotopes
Australia
The relatively new Australia's multipurpose OPAL reactor maintaining its KPI of >300 actual operating days at power each year. ANSTO is continuing manufacturing of the critical radiopharmaceuticals ⁹⁹Mo bulk, ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator, ¹⁷⁷Lu n.c.a., ¹³¹I bulk, ¹³¹I products, ¹²³I product, ⁵¹Cr EDTA, ¹⁸⁷Re Oncobeta and a number of contract irradiation products. ⁹⁹Mo and ¹⁷⁷Lu (produced by valuable enriched ¹⁷⁶Yb) purification involved with series of ion exchange separation; ¹³¹I purification based on sublimation of natural TeO₂ target. ANSTO have capability to produce per week up to 600,000GBq ⁹⁹Mo, 150 ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators sizes between 20-370GBq, 6000GBq ¹³¹I, 1200GBq (planned to be doubled next year) ¹⁷⁷Lu. ANSTO perform British Pharmacopoeia compliant QC testing and QA release for sale. ANSTO has been working with the Australian Government to design a world-leading nuclear medicine manufacturing facility to ensure Australia's sovereign production capabilities.

Bangladesh
The goal of this report is to describe the current status on RIs production in Bangladesh. The main current RIs products are ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc, ¹³¹I NaI oral solution, and ¹³¹I capsule. Current monthly production rate for ^99mTc generator is 41 and ¹³¹I radioactivity is 373 GBq, respectively. ^99mTc is used for diagnostic purposes and ¹³¹I is used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. RIs production division of BAEC is able to fulfill the local demand of the above isotopes to substitute the import completely by indigenous product. Besides, this division has established a kit production facility successfully for ^99mTc generator to fulfill the ^99mTc based radiopharmaceuticals demand domestically.

Indonesia
Indonesian 30 MW "G.A. Siwabessy (GAS)" reactor is a multipurpose reactor, which is used for RIs production, research, education and so on. Some research activities on RIs are carried out to develop ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generator by using neutron-activated ⁹⁸Mo and development of ¹⁷⁷Lu based Radiopharmaceuticals by using enriched ¹⁷⁶Lu. The production line of radionuclides have delivered ¹⁵³Sm-EDTMP from Sm₂O₃ ¹³¹I-MIBG from natural TeO₂ and 740 GBq of ⁹⁹Mo from ²³⁵U fission during its every 6 days operation cycle. To achieve high purity of the products, purification methods involving of multi stage filtration of the enriched material, column chromatography, solvent extraction method for ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc and dry distillation method for ¹³¹I is adopted. The quality control of the commercial product is implementing standard acceptance criteria of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) of the agency for drug and food control. We can produce the RIs of³²P, ³⁵S, ¹⁹⁸Au, ¹⁹²Ir and ⁶⁴Zn for research purposes. Currently the GAS reactor is under the organizational transition.

Japan
From November in 2021, the Research Reactor of Kyoto University (KUR) has been operated in the steady state mode for several researches (RIs production and materials research, life sciences etc.) with a maximum power of 1 and 5 MW. The studies (R&D) of RIs production such as ⁴⁷Sc,¹⁰⁵Rh and ¹⁷⁷Lu (etc.) for medical use are continued for future plan. Further, Research Reactor of JAEA (JRR-3) has begun to operate from February 2021 with a maximum power of 20MW. The RIs production (¹⁹⁸Au and ¹⁹²Ir), research for materials and life sciences will be continued by JAEA staff, university and company researchers using all devices in JRR-3. JRR-3 produced 56 GBq of ¹⁹⁸Au and 27 GBq of ¹⁹²Ir during FY2021, but no RI production was carried out which requires chemical separation. This year, JRR-3 has been started a program for general users on May 9^th, and is scheduled to be in operation until December 24^th.

Kazakhstan
The production of RIs for the local market continued using the WWR-K reactor during 2022. The following volumes of reactor RIs for medicine and industry were produced: ¹⁹²Ir - appr. 1.85 10¹⁴ Bq/year, ⁹⁹Mo - 12000-15000 GBq/year, ¹³¹I - 3000 GBq/year. Activation method was used to produce ⁹⁹Mo and ¹³¹I. ¹³¹I is produced by traditional dry distillation from irradiated tellurium oxide, with iodine absorption in alkaline solution. For production of ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc generators, the synthesis of ⁹⁹Mo-Zr gel from alkaline solution of ⁹⁹Mo was used. The quality of ^99mTc and ¹³¹I radiopharmaceuticals are meeting the European pharmacopoeia monograph requirements. The production of radiopharmaceuticals was carried out in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

Mongolia
The Research Reactor (RR) project for Mongolia had been discussed internally for several years. Utilization of RR, the design study and fuel comparison analyzes were conducted. RR project development is in progress with ROSATOM. The proposed RR is to be utilized for RIs production (⁹⁹Mo/^99m Tc by activation method), Human Resource Development, Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), education and training, nuclear physics and other commercial services. Currently all medical RIs are imported from other countries such as Korea, China and Germany. 500 mCi of ^99mTc generators are being imported from Korea for every two weeks.

Philippines
The PRR-1 Sub-critical Assembly for Training, Education and Research (SATER) was successfully commissioned by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) in June 2022. The PNRI Reactor Group is currently waiting for the issuance of the full license to operate the PRR-1 SATER, which is expected to commence by 2023. The implementation of the program to establish the PNRI Nuclear Medicine Research and Innovation Centre (NMRIC) commenced on 2020. Through this program, PNRI will have a cyclotron facility operating at 20 MeV with four operational PET/CT systems, producing ⁸F, ¹¹C, ¹³N, ⁶⁴Cu, ⁴³Sc and ⁶⁸Ga. The scheduled completion date of the facility is on 2026.

Thailand
Thai Research Reactor-1/ Modification 1 (TRR-1/M1) has been operated in the steady state mode with a maximum power of 1.3 MW. The number of medical procedures involving the use of RIs is increasing with emphasis on radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnostic and treatment of cancer. TRR-1/M1 can produce ¹⁵³Sm, ⁸²Br and ³²P. Recently, the experimental production of ¹⁷⁷Lu were conducted using enriched ¹⁷⁶Lu and natural TeO2 at in-core and out-core position of TRR-1/M1. Further investigation for procedure of isolation and purification from irradiated target will be performed in the future for the full potential of ¹³¹I and ¹⁷⁷Lu production strategies, approximately 11 GBq/g for 26 hr at power of 1 MW for the ¹⁷⁷Lu production. In the future, the target material will be dissolved in dilute acid, purified, dispensed and steam sterilized. Approximately 7.4 GBq of ¹⁵³Sm and 1.5 GBq of ³²P are produced per year. The QC process is performed to determine the purity of radionuclide and the final product. %RNP is achieving almost 100 for the final RIs product. QA staff examine and authorize the release of the product to the customer. The RIs produced at TRR-1/M1 is currently supplied for domestic demand only.

Vietnam
Dalat Nuclear Research Reactor (DNRR) is routinely utilized to produce radioisotopes for medical uses (¹³¹I, ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc, ³²P) and supplies of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals to 40 nuclear medicine departments in the country. The reactor operates continuously for 100 hours/week to produce radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals to meet 80% of demand. In the domestic market for ¹³¹I and ³²P, other isotopes such as ^99mTc had to be imported 100%. Regarding ¹⁷⁷Lu, ¹⁵³Sm, ⁹⁰Y, prepared a small amount for research. Total radioactivity of Ri produced in medicine in 2022 is 1,138 Ci. Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) for their practical use are carried out according to the system of a GMP facility. In 2022, 2 research topics on the preparation of radioisotope and radiopharmaceuticals have been completed.

RRU-2: Activities on SMR Development
Hitachi-GE's Activities for Development of Small Modular Reactor
BWRX-300 is the SMR design which is developed by the cooperation of GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy,Ltd in US and Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd. It aims to satisfy the social expectation to achieve the carbon neutral by reducing the initial investment for the building nuclear power plants and establishing the sustainable energy source. BWRX-300 is the small light water reactor design of 300MWe output with the features of passive safety system and simplified reactor system. The features enable to achieve both of safety and economical benefits. Our strategy is to minimize the technical and licensing risk by the application of proven technology in the past BWR fleets design. We will continue the technical development to contribute the Clean Energy development in the world.

RRU-3: New Research Reactor
The project of new research reactor in Vietnam
Vietnam plans to build a New Research Reactor under Inter-Governmental Agreement between Vietnam and Russian Federation. Agreement has been signed for building a Center for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST). The main facility of the CNST is a high-power multi-purpose Research Reactor (RR) of 10 MW, upgradable to 15 MW. The first phase of the project with Pre-FS has finished
The requested tender including Terms of Reference (TOR) has been transferred to ROSATOM for the implementation of FS phase (second phase), which takes about two-year duration including approval.
EPC contract (third phase) could be started from the end of 2025 if FS phase will be accomplished successfully.

Thailand experiences in establishing a new research reactor
The decision to embark on a new research reactor (RR) based on well justified needs. It requires preparation, planning and established appropriate national infrastructure to ensure its safe, secure and sustainable operation and utilization. The new RR project used IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NG-T-3.18, as a guideline to provide a framework for self-assessment of readiness of a new RR project and the resource requirements that it will impose.

RRU-4: RI production
Medical RI Production in Existing Reactors for Improving Domestic Preparedness - Production of Mo-99 and Ac-225 using PWR and Joyo -
The production technology of medical RI using existing domestic nuclear reactors has been studied to achieve the self-sufficiency in Japan. The target nuclides considered are Mo/Tc, which is most commonly used in medical diagnosis, and ²²⁵Ac which is recently known as effective alpha emitting nuclide for cancer treatment named as "targeted alpha therapy".
Commercial reactor such as PWR is suitable for continuous and stable production of ⁹⁹Mo because of its high capacity factor and proper thermal neutron spectrum for ⁹⁸Mo(n,ɣ) reactions. Also, the experimental fast reactor Joyo owned by JAEA provides high energy neutrons which are preferable to produce ²²⁵Ac efficiently by ²²⁶Ra(n,2n) reactions. Our study showed that single large scale PWR has the potential to generate more than half of the current domestic demand of ⁹⁹Mo (~1000Ci/week) and Joyo generates more than half of the current world supply of ²²⁵Ac (~2Ci/year).
This research project is underway from 2020 to 2022 as a MEXT nuclear system research and development project by a team of Tokyo City University, Kanazawa University, Nippon Medical Isotope Co., Ltd. (NucMed), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA).

RRU-5: Neutron scattering
Neutron scattering in Indonesia
After 30 years in operation, Neutron Scattering Laboratory (NSLBATAN) Indonesia is still running for various activities with its 7 (seven) Neutron Scattering Instruments. The Residual Stress Neutron Diffractometer, FCD/TD and HRPD as well as the Neutron Radiography Facility are performing most of the measurements from various users (universities, industries and other research centres and communities). The SANS spectrometer runs some samples and becoming more available for users with biological samples. The Triple Axis Spectrometer (TAS) just started a whole refurbishment with the help from universities in Indonesia and abroad with the hope that will run some samples soon. Last but not least, HRSANS spectrometer just stared to run some samples supplied by IAEA Expert who guided us last year. Hopefully some meaningful data will be produced in the near future.

Neutron scattering studies at JRR-3
Neutron scattering measurements use thermal and cold neutrons with wavelengths of a few angstroms to determine atomic arrangements and nano-scale structure of variety of materials. The neutron scatterings were mainly used to determine magnetic structure of magnetic materials, but nowadays are widely used for studies of physical, chemical, and biological materials and industrial application. Thus, in addition to the upgrading of present facilities, many big neutron scattering facilities are under constructing in the world. Neutron scattering facilities have atomic-reactor and accelerator types. We use two facilities properly for each purpose to get the best results. In this presentation, we will introduce these present status of the neutron scattering studies, and the position of the atomic-reactor type facilities against the accelerator facilities.

NAA-1: Progress report on environmental monitoring with multiple measurement techniques including NAA
Australia
NAA demand at ANSTO in 2022 saw continued recovery from the events of the previous two years while clashing with multiple system failures. With the arrival of some new components and the expected delivery of more in the coming weeks, the laboratory is expected to be at full capacity again going into 2023. The NAA group has also experienced organisational change, now in a new part of ANSTO better aligned with other gamma spectrometry users. Measurement of environmental samples has always been a part of routine work and 2022 was no exception. The group also experimented with developing a capability to measure fluorine using NAA in food packaging materials which is potentially an emerging environmental concern.

Bangladesh
During this time fish, poultry and their feed samples were analyzed using NAA for assessment of As and Cr. In the absence of reactor beam, toxic metal accumulation was studied in shrimps by using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Environmental radioactivity monitoring of geological samples was continued while the reactor was temporarily shut down for renovation and maintenance purposes. Sixteen papers mostly related to the project activities were published, and one of these papers was selected for the best paper awards of our establishment.

China
PM2.5 and PM10 samples were collected in Beijing about twice a week. These samples were sent to Beijing Normal University for PIXE analysis. The NAA platform at China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR) is still upgrading. Chang'e-5 lunar soil samples, lunar meteorites, reference materials were analyzed by using NAA in this year. NAA is a very important analytical method in China. In 2023, PM2.5 and PM10 samples will be collected and analyzed by NAA.

Indonesia
Determination of the micronutrient composition of foodstuffs and marine product in six stunting prevalence areas has been carried out using the Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique. These results are expected to contribute to the government's efforts to reduce stunting prevalence. Besides that, it can also complete the composition table of Indonesian food, especially the content of macro and micro minerals.

Japan
Accurate analytical methods are required for the development of certified reference materials used for calibration for analytical instruments and validation of chemical analysis. Neutron activation analysis is recognized as a potential primary ratio method that can be applied to the development of certified reference materials. In this presentation, I will introduce the precise determination of total bromine in plastics, the purity evaluation of high-purity iridium bromide, and the impurity analysis of high-purity yttrium oxide and high-purity titanium metal as examples of the application of neutron activation analysis.

Kazakhstan
Due to the temporary shutdown of the IVG.1M research reactor in connection with its transfer to low-enriched fuel, the planned volume of investigations by NAA was substantially reduced. The plans for 2023 are traditionally connected with the development of NAA methodology for the needs of geological and adjacent sciences. We plan to master the comparative NAA semi-absolute method k₀-INAA.

Korea
HANARO reactor operation was started from January 2022 after long shutdown. Single-comparator (SC)-INAA method has been standardized for Co, Cr and Zn for dust particle CRM analysis and particulate matter samples analysis. HyperGam peak fitting software is appropriate program for complex peaks analysis. The sequential type WD-XRF has been installed and validated through Fluxana proficiency test participation.

Malaysia
The determination of heavy metals, U, Th and rare earth elements (REEs) concentration in soil samples collected from an industrial area was performed using the NAA technique. The data were evaluated to identify the degree of contamination of the soil and the sources of pollution. The data obtained can be used as baseline data for the future. The sampling and analysis of soil samples will continue for other industrial areas.

Mongolia
Last years, we studied heavy and toxic elements and radioactivity isotopes in environmental samples of the Ulaanbaatar city by X-ray fluorescence, gamma activation analysis and neutron activation analysis. In addition, we are implementing a project for establishing a subcritical assembly in Mongolia. With the successful implementation of this project, we will be able to conduct neutron activation analysis in Mongolia.

Philippines
INAA collaborative work with Vietnam through the Dalat Nuclear Research Institute was materialized just recently, being able to conduct analysis on soil, sediments, volcanic ash and SRMs for arsenic (As) and elemental profiles. INAA results of these samples will be used in the correlation of As in groundwater with its bedrock. Food samples were also analyzed to explore elements identifiable with organic/inorganic farming practices that can be utilized for authentication and provenance.

Thailand
For this year, the elemental analysis of PM2.5 emitted from different species of biomass burning and soil using NAA, PIXE and ICP-MS has been implemented. PM2.5, PM10, soil and crop samples collected from Phathumtani Province were also measured for their element concentrations using PIXE, h-XRF and ICP-OES. In 2022, we will continue to analyze environmental samples such as PM2.5, PM10, soil and crop using NAA, PIXE and ICP-MS.

Vietnam
The k₀-INAA method was used to analyze elements in baked clays and sediments for studying characterizing archaeological materials in Oc Eo relic and erosion of Dinh An coastal, respectively. REEs are key marker elements for grouping/classification study. A new project on "Assessment of sediment transport in Ca Mau coastal by nuclear and related techniques" was proposed in the 2025-2030 period.

NAA-2: Latest outcome using NAA
Standardization and Applications of Internal Mono-standard Neutron Activation Analysis
The k₀-based internal mono-standard NAA (IM-NAA) using in-situ relative detection efficiency has been optimized for analysis of small and large size as well as non-standard geometry samples. One large representative sample analysis is sufficient instead of sub-sample analysis. This method gives elemental concentration ratios with respect to one of the elements present in the sample. The main advantage of IM-NAA method is that it doesn't require any internal or external multi-elemental standard. In addition, it can be applied to inhomogeneous and unknow chemical composition sample analysis. This presentation describes a brief review on NAA, standardization procedure of IM-NAA and applications to various samples including archaeological artifacts, nuclear materials and environment samples analysis.

Chemical characteristics of Ryugu particles returned by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft
The Hayabusa2 spacecraft collected surface and subsurface materials from the C-type asteroid Ryugu and successfully returned these materials to the Earth on December 6th, 2020. Eight Ryugu particles were allocated to the Phase-2 curation Kochi team. Five Ryugu particles weighing about 8 mg were analyzed by INAA for the determination of elemental abundances. Large variations of elemental abundances in Ryugu particles can be seen in Ca, Mn and rare earth elements due to the heterogeneously distributions of carbonate and phosphate, respectively. Elemental abundances for Ryugu particles have similar to those of CI-chondrites except for Hg. The differences of Hg between Ryugu particles and CI-chondrites reflect contamination of the latter.

Wrap up session

Conclusions
The RRU project has quite broad topics and therefore it was agreed to focus on one and/or two specific topics in the current phase (2021-2023) for better outcomes and improvements in knowledge.
The RRU project includes the following topics:

a. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)
b. Isotope Production including new isotopes
c. Neutron Scattering
d. BNCT, NR
e. Material Research
f. New Research Reactor
g. Human Resource Development

The meeting agreed the FY2023's workshop would be held in Thailand.

RRU group
The specific topics in the nuclear science field were considered in the workshop of phase 2 (2021-2023) according to a questionnaire to each member country. In this year, possible topics were picked up. 1) RIs production including new RIs with a special emphasis to theragnostic for combining diagnosis/therapy and their separation and/or purification, further the quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) for their practical use. 2) New research reactor, a future plan in SMR and several plans for new reactors, further activities of fundamental researches for neutron scattering in plural countries, were reported in the workshop.

NAA group
NAA group agreed to continuously work on environmental samples for the next year. Environmental samples cover not only "common" samples like air or soils but also others related to the environment including ore or even food samples. Countries which do not have access to a reactor for NAA can use an alternative method such as XRF/PIXE/ICP-MS. Where possible, comparison of NAA to other methods would be interesting. Conclusion which was previously shown is not proposed to change.

Ebihara - requests list of publications related to FNCA activities for next coordinators meeting report.

Member countries are proposing the following for the current work cycle:

Program of
FNCA 2022 Workshop on Research Reactor Utilization Project

Online Open Seminar

As online open seminar, Dr. SHIRAI Naoki (Kanagawa University), the Member of Japan in the FNCA Research Reactor Utilization Project, made a presentation.

For inquiries concerning this presentation, please find contact information as below (until March 31, 2023)