Zinc
Zinc isotopes have various applications, from the medical field as precursors of medical radioisotopes 67Cu and 68Ga, to the industrial world where zinc depleted in 64Zn is used to limit corrosion in the cooling system of nuclear reactors while limiting primary circuit dose-rate. These applications require a high enrichment level, a very high chemical purity and a reliable and thorough supply chain.
The Solution
With its gas centrifugation isotope separation process, using state-of-the-art centrifuges, Orano Stable Isotopes is able to enrich zinc over 98%, for each one of its 5 natural isotopes (64, 66, 67, 68 and 70).
Orano offers a reliable, proven and efficient solution for zinc enrichment. This solution is completed with deconversion services in the chemical form required.
Key Features
- Enrichment over 98% and depletion down to 1% by gas centrifugation of DEZ (diethylzinc) at the Tricastin site in one of its five natural isotopes
- Delivery in various chemical forms: metal powder(Zn), gas (DEZ), oxide (ZnO)
Expertise & Experiences
The stable isotopes production uses technologies and know-how developed for uranium over the past 60 years. With its 1900 employees, an R&D center with about 50 experts, and state-of-the-art industrial tools (the Philippe Coste plant for fluorine chemistry, the George Besse II factories using the most advanced centrifugation technology), the Tricastin site has naturally been chosen to host Orano’s stable isotopes production, which benefits from all the advantages provided by this industrial platform.Your Benefits at a glance
- Enrichment and chemical form according to the client’s needs
- Very high chemical and isotopic purity
- Proven technology
- Reliable and thorough European supply chain and production
