Enriched Xenon
Enrichment of Xenon in one of its nine natural isotopes
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Known for its use in lamps or lasers in its natural state, it has many applications when enriched, especially its isotopes 124 and 129 in the medical field as precursors of medical radioisotopes or contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Xenon 136 is used for fundamental research for experiments on neutrinoless double beta decay. These applications require a high enrichment level, a very high chemical purity and a reliable and thorough supply chain.
With its gas centrifugation isotope separation process, using state-of-the-art centrifuges, Orano Stable Isotopes is able to enrich xenon over 95%, for each one of its 9 natural isotopes (124, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 134 and 136). Orano offers a reliable, proven and efficient solution for xenon enrichment.
- Enrichment over 95% by gas centrifugation of Xe at the Tricastin site in one of its nine natural isotopes
- Delivery in gaseous form (Xe)
Exploded view of the Stable Isotopes Laboratory
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 has naturally been chosen to host Orano’s stable isotopes production, which benefits from all the advantages provided by this industrial platform.
Tricastin site
- Enrichment over 95% in any of the nine natural isotopes of xenon
- Very high chemical and isotopic purity
- Proven technology
- Reliable and thorough European supply chain and production