TY - JOUR
T1 - Industrial scale production of stable isotopes employing the technique of plasma separation
AU - Stevenson, N. R.
AU - Bigelow, T. S.
AU - Tarallo, F. J.
PY - 2003/7/1
Y1 - 2003/7/1
N2 - Calutrons, centrifuges, diffusion and distillation processes are some of the devices and techniques that have been employed to produce substantial quantities of enriched stable isotopes. Nevertheless, the availability of enriched isotopes in sufficient quantities for industrial applications remains very restricted. Industries such as those involved with medicine, semiconductors, nuclear fuel, propulsion, and national defense have identified the potential need for various enriched isotopes in large quantities. Economically producing most enriched (non-gaseous) isotopes in sufficient quantities has so far eluded commercial producers. The plasma separation process is a commercial technique now available for producing large quantities of a wide range of enriched isotopes. Until recently, this technique has mainly been explored with small-scale ("proof-of-principle") devices that have been built and operated at research institutes. The new Theragenics™ facility at Oak Ridge, TN houses the only existing commercial scale PSP system. This device, which successfully operated in the 1980's, has recently been re-commissioned and is planned to be used to produce a variety of isotopes. This report will summarize the progress and the capabilities of this device and it's potential for impacting the world's supply of stable isotopes in the future. This technique now holds promise of being able to open the door to allowing new and exciting applications of these isotopes in the future.
AB - Calutrons, centrifuges, diffusion and distillation processes are some of the devices and techniques that have been employed to produce substantial quantities of enriched stable isotopes. Nevertheless, the availability of enriched isotopes in sufficient quantities for industrial applications remains very restricted. Industries such as those involved with medicine, semiconductors, nuclear fuel, propulsion, and national defense have identified the potential need for various enriched isotopes in large quantities. Economically producing most enriched (non-gaseous) isotopes in sufficient quantities has so far eluded commercial producers. The plasma separation process is a commercial technique now available for producing large quantities of a wide range of enriched isotopes. Until recently, this technique has mainly been explored with small-scale ("proof-of-principle") devices that have been built and operated at research institutes. The new Theragenics™ facility at Oak Ridge, TN houses the only existing commercial scale PSP system. This device, which successfully operated in the 1980's, has recently been re-commissioned and is planned to be used to produce a variety of isotopes. This report will summarize the progress and the capabilities of this device and it's potential for impacting the world's supply of stable isotopes in the future. This technique now holds promise of being able to open the door to allowing new and exciting applications of these isotopes in the future.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038034939&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1024722132332
DO - 10.1023/A:1024722132332
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0038034939
SN - 0236-5731
VL - 257
SP - 153
EP - 155
JO - Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
JF - Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
IS - 1
ER -