Conversion Characteristics and Yield Evaluation Calculation of Reactor Produced Medical Radioisotope ³²P

Phosphorus-32 (³²P), a beta-emitting medical radioisotope, exhibits unique therapeutic efficacy in treating polycythemia vera, dermatological conditions, hemangiomas, and alleviating bone metastasis pain. Research reactors serve as critical facilities for the industrial scale production of ³²P. This paper first introduces the applications of ³²P and the current status of its reactor-based production. Utilizing a sophisticated burnup calculation code, the conversion characteristics and yield of ³²P produced via irradiation in research reactors were computationally analyzed. The results demonstrate that high flux reactors offer significant advantages over research reactors with typical neutron flux levels for producing ³²P via the neutron capture method. The ³²S(n, p)³²P reaction pathway enables the production of carrier-free ³²P with higher specific activity. The findings of this study provide technical references for ³²P production through research reactor irradiation. Subsequent research will further optimize the irradiation schemes for ³²P production in high flux reactors.