Uranium Enrichment

Source: DH

Context: Israel recently targeted Iran’s key nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan — sites central to uranium enrichment — raising fresh concerns about Iran’s potential nuclear weapons capability.

About Uranium Enrichment:

• What is Uranium Enrichment?

It is the process of increasing the concentration of Uranium-235 (U-235) isotope in natural uranium to enable sustained nuclear fission, used in both civilian reactors and nuclear weapons.

• Facility in News: Natanz and Fordo: Iran’s major uranium enrichment sites Isfahan: Site for uranium processing and raw material preparation

• Natanz and Fordo: Iran’s major uranium enrichment sites

• Isfahan: Site for uranium processing and raw material preparation

• What is an Isotope?

Atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. Their nuclear behaviour differs even if their chemical properties remain similar.

• Steps in Nuclear Enrichment:

• Conversion: Uranium ore is processed into uranium hexafluoride gas (UF₆), which can be efficiently used in centrifuges for isotope separation.

• Centrifugation: UF₆ gas is spun in ultra-fast centrifuges (~70,000 rpm); the heavier U-238 moves outward, while lighter U-235 concentrates near the centre.

• Cascade Process: Centrifuges are connected in series (cascade), where each stage gradually increases U-235 concentration through repeated separations.

• Product Use: Low Enriched Uranium (LEU): 3–5% U-235, used in civilian nuclear power reactors to generate electricity. Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU): ~90% U-235, used for compact, efficient nuclear weapons (weapons-grade uranium).

• Low Enriched Uranium (LEU): 3–5% U-235, used in civilian nuclear power reactors to generate electricity.

• Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU): ~90% U-235, used for compact, efficient nuclear weapons (weapons-grade uranium).

• Significance: Civilian Uses: Generates ~9% of global electricity; produces medical isotopes. Weapons Proliferation Risk: The same technology can be diverted for bomb-making. Geopolitical Impact: Higher enrichment levels (Iran currently at 60%) escalate tensions and fears of nuclear arms development.

• Civilian Uses: Generates ~9% of global electricity; produces medical isotopes.

• Weapons Proliferation Risk: The same technology can be diverted for bomb-making.

• Geopolitical Impact: Higher enrichment levels (Iran currently at 60%) escalate tensions and fears of nuclear arms development.