The demand for iodine-125 (125I) as a medical radioisotope for use in the treatment of prostate cancer continues to increase. However, due to uncertainties with current commercial production facilities, potential supply issues have emerged prompting several reactors worldwide to consider the development and installation of large-scale 125I production facilities. In 2002, MNRC installed and operated successfully for ~ 1.5 years, a closed loop system using aluminum material for containment of the enriched 124Xe (99%) target during irradiation. However, problems with design features and restrictions on serviceability and repairs ultimately forced MNRC to abandon it as a first target failure resulted in high contamination levels in the whole system which further restricted personnel accessibility. Today, a new target and a multi-compartment (modular) transport and decay system with automatic operation and dispensing of high-level batches of 125I and with ready access for maintenance and repairs have been designed to resume 125I production activities. The new operating conditions provide ample opportunities for increased production with shorter irradiation times.

Radiofrequency (RF) is an advanced telecommunication technology first invented in the early 1900s, which is in use today for wireless communication worldwide. Because of its ability to penetrate and heat various materials, RF has the potential to disinfect and/or disinfest food, agricultural and environmental materials. However, research to validate this approach has been restricted by limited understanding of how RF photons interact with materials, and by limited access to and the high cost of its source electronics. Since the early 1990s, we have conducted research at UC Davis on continuous RF power applications using nonconventional RF systems and new operational concepts. Laboratory tests have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of RF power to disinfect and/or disinfest fresh produce, rice, soils, agricultural wastewater, and other foods and materials. Likewise, rapid pulses of RF are lethal to arthropod pests and may provide a nonthermal disinfestation process for fresh, temperature-sensitive commodities, as well as a promising alternative to the fumigant methyl bromide.