uranberikning

Uranium enrichment is the process of increasing the proportion of the fissile isotope uranium-235 (U-235) in natural uranium. Natural uranium contains about 0.7% U-235 and about 99.3% U-238. Enrichment raises the U-235 fraction to levels suitable for different uses, such as about 3–5% for most commercial light-water reactors, or much higher fractions for research reactors or certain装 naval propulsion concepts and, in some cases, weapons applications.

Technologies used for enrichment rely on the small mass difference between U-235 and U-238. The principal methods are gaseous diffusion, gas centrifugation, and laser-based isotope separation technologies. In modern practice, gas centrifugation is the dominant method, where UF6 gas is circulated through cascades of centrifuges to gradually increase the U-235 concentration. Historical approaches included gaseous diffusion and other alternatives, but these have largely been superseded by centrifuge-based systems. The processes are designed to operate with uranium hexafluoride (UF6), a chemical form that allows the physical separation of isotopes while keeping the material stable for processing.

Because enrichment is a dual-use capability with implications for nuclear proliferation, it is subject to international safeguards and export controls. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors declared enrichment facilities and conducts inspections to verify that enrichment activities are not diverted to weapons programs. Nations pursue enrichment under treaties such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and within national regulatory frameworks to balance energy goals with security concerns.

Applications of enriched uranium include fuel for civil nuclear power reactors and certain research or medical isotope programs. Highly enriched uranium, at much higher U-235 concentrations, can be used for weapons purposes, a fact that underpins ongoing international efforts to regulate and monitor enrichment activities.

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