The Foundation of
America’s Isotopes

Oak Ridge National Laboratory operates and is expanding specialized infrastructure for isotope production, stable isotope enrichment, radiochemical processing, characterization, and research.

Facilities at a Glance

HFIR

HFIR

HFIR provides neutron irradiation capabilities.

HFIR
REDC

REDC

REDC has shielded hot cells and laboratories.

REDC
IMET

IMET

IMET has hot cells for examining and working with irradiated materials.

IMET
RDL

RDL

A facility for processing and distributing enriched stable isotopes.

RDL
SIPRC

SIPRC

A new facility for stable isotope enrichment.

SIPRC
IRML

IRML

A facility currently used for actinium-227 production.

IRML
SIPF

SIPF

A facility to produce stable isotopes that are in short supply.

SIPF
IFEL

IFEL

For examining nuclear reactor fuel elements and reactor parts.

IFEL

A National Capability Built Over Decades

Isotope production requires facilities designed for work that conventional laboratories and private industry cannot perform.

From the Manhattan Project to today, ORNL has pushed the boundaries of isotope science and production for our benefit.

Building the Isotope Infrastructure

SIPRC

For decades, the United States relied heavily on stockpiled isotopes and foreign sources for many enriched stable isotopes. ORNL is rebuilding domestic capability through complementary new facilities such as the Stable Isotope Production and Research Center (SIPRC).

Group photo of six leaders from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and BWXT Nuclear Fuel Services following an MOU signing, with two seated at a table and four standing behind them in front of a green ORNL backdrop.

DUECE

The United States has lacked a domestic uranium enrichment capability for defense missions since 2013. Through DUECE, ORNL is developing next-generation gas centrifuge technology to restore a reliable supply of domestically enriched uranium for critical national security needs.