Pharmaceutical

A recent study found that about one quarter of the molybdenum used each year is recycled material from scrap sources. The rest is newly mined, primary molybdenum. Scrap therefore plays an important role in meeting demand and contributing to sustainability.

The molybdenum isotope molybdenum-99 and its decay cousin technetium-99m are extremely helpful and widely used in medical procedures, for example in the diagnosis of cancer. Current production methods for ⁹⁹Mo are in question because of aging reactors and the use of weapons-grade uranium. Fortunately, some new methods for producing ⁹⁹Mo are under development and show great promise. If they are successful, molybdenum can continue to play its life-saving role.