The uranium enrichment process .
Using uranium as a fuel in the types of nuclear reactors common in the United States requires that the uranium be enriched so that the percentage of the uranium-235 isotope is increased, typically to 3 to 5%. Uranium enrichment is an isotopic separation process that increases the proportion of the uranium-235 isotope in relation to uranium-238 in natural uranium.
The enrichment process used in the United States involves combining uranium with fluorine to make uranium hexafluoride (UF6) followed by gaseous diffusion (see below). The UF6 output from gaseous diffusion is in two streams - one is increased, or enriched, in its percentage of U-235, and the other is reduced, or depleted, in its percentage of U-235. The depleted uranium hexafluoride product is referred to as "depleted UF6." After gaseous diffusion, the enriched uranium hexafluoride is subjected to further processing, while the depleted UF6 is generally stored.
The enrichment process used in the United States involves combining uranium with fluorine to make uranium hexafluoride (UF6) followed by gaseous diffusion (see below). The UF6 output from gaseous diffusion is in two streams - one is increased, or enriched, in its percentage of U-235, and the other is reduced, or depleted, in its percentage of U-235. The depleted uranium hexafluoride product is referred to as "depleted UF6." After gaseous diffusion, the enriched uranium hexafluoride is subjected to further processing, while the depleted UF6 is generally stored.
