Nuclear + Isotopes at ORNL
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What it means
For reliable commercial nuclear power in the United States, consistent isotope production is key. ORNL is the only producer in the Western Hemisphere for californium-252, a rare manmade isotope used to start up nuclear reactor cores by creating a predictable nuclear chain reaction. Without our Cf-252, the U.S. would be reliant on unstable foreign suppliers. ORNL also produces isotopes for nuclear medicine, including actinium-225 used for targeted alpha therapy cancer treatment.
Why it matters
One-fifth of the nation’s electricity comes from 94 large reactors. By 2030, the U.S. plans to add 10, in part to meet energy needs for artificial intelligence. Cf-252 also starts up small modular reactors companies are developing, as well as reactors that power U.S. Navy vessels.
Meanwhile, the need for medical isotopes, used for diagnostic tests and in treatments for a variety of health issues, is skyrocketing. Ac-225, for example, is so needed for groundbreaking cancer treatments that ORNL and all other producers combined cannot keep up with demand. That’s why ORNL is researching and piloting new methods to produce more isotopes in a shorter amount of time.
What we do at ORNL
In ORNL’s state-of-the-art laboratories, gloveboxes and shielded hot cells, technicians and researchers work around the clock with some of the most rare, valuable and needed materials on earth. ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor, the nation’s most powerful reactor-based source of neutrons, can irradiate materials to produce isotopes that are recovered, separated, purified and packaged in ORNL facilities. The largest is the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center, where many radiochemical separations were pioneered – and still are.
What’s next
At ORNL, we continually improve processes with new research and technology. Currently, we’re testing improved separation processes for Cf-252 and other isotopes. We are developing automation and robotics to increase efficiency and reduce radiation exposure. We’re partnering with industry to leverage our combined strengths to shore up a reliable domestic supply chain. All the while, we’re a catalyst for discovering new isotopes and new applications for isotopes, for the benefit of U.S. security, science, human health and energy production.
