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A worker in protective clothing works on nuclear isotope harvesting. A worker in protective clothing works on nuclear isotope harvesting. A worker in protective clothing works on nuclear isotope harvesting.

Nuclear Medicine and Isotopes

Laurentis is a vital partner in the production of various isotopes for Ontario and the world.

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Workers removing Mo-99 isotope

Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99)

The Molybdenum-99 radioisotope is considered the gold standard diagnostic test for many conditions as its decay product, Technetium-99m (Tc-99m), is long enough to complete medical examinations and procedures, and short enough to not cause harm to human organs.

Tc-99m is used in 30 million medical treatments around the world each year, helping to detect illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

Laurentis is working with BWXT to harvest Mo-99 from Ontario Power Generation's  Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, pending regulatory approval. This will make Darlington the first commercial-scale reactor worldwide to produce Moly-99.

Once harvested, BWXT will utilize its newly designed generators to process the Molybdenum-99 into Technetium-99m; the final product used in diagnostic imaging.

Workers inspecting He-3 Tool

Helium-3 (He-3)

Helium-3 is a rare isotope, used in quantum computing, neutron research, border security and medical imaging.

In September 2021, Laurentis announced its program to produce He-3. Laurentis will obtain the He-3 from tritium stored at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, about 100 kilometres east of Toronto. The tritium is removed from heavy water in the CANDU station, owned and operated by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the parent company of Laurentis.

A stable (non-radioactive) and inert gas, the He-3 will be extracted using a new custom-designed tool, which Laurentis installed and commissioned at Darlington.

He-3 is the decay product of tritium. Tritium is a diverse isotope because it can be used for medical research as well for production of self-powered lights. It can also be combined with phosphor which creates a long-lasting, self-powered light source. This combination does not require electricity which is used in watch dials and exit signs.

Harvesting nuclear medical isotopes.

Heavy Water (D20)

D20 is used for medical research and to identify compounds using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. It also helps pharmaceuticals to last longer in the bloodstream and can be used in next-generation electronics. 

In Sept. 2020, Laurentis announced a collaboration agreement with BWXT Canada Ltd. (BWXT), through Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) Centre for Canadian Nuclear Sustainability (CCNS), to develop technology that will assist in the recycling of heavy water at OPG's nuclear facilities. 

The project between Laurentis and BWXT will develop new technology to recycle heavy water used to cool Canadian pressurized heavy-water reactors such as those in OPG's Pickering and Darlington Nuclear Generating Stations. Once recycled, the heavy water will be utilized in a growing number of non-nuclear applications that include pharmaceuticals, medical diagnostics and next generation electronics including fibre optics.