Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
NE uses ORNL facilities for isotope
processing and iridium fabrication.
The Office of Nuclear Energy maintains a programmatic presence in several facilities at ORNL associated with isotope production. These include: the Hot Cell Facility in Building 4501 used for isotope processing and packaging; chemical and materials laboratories for processing and forming enriched stable isotopes; the materials laboratory in which a wide variety of metallurgical, ceramic, and high vacuum processing techniques are performed; and the chemical laboratory used for scraping, leaching, dissolving, oxidizing processes to remove unwanted materials and to place the isotope into a "chemically stable" form. For more information visit the web pages for NE's Isotope Program. |
HFIR and REDC Site
Hot Cell in REDC |
The Office of Space and Defense Power Systems also maintains the unique infrastructure for iridium fabrication at ORNL. This infrastructure provides the capability to support radioisotope power systems for upcoming space and national security applications. NE's Space Program information can be found on NE's Web site.
ORNL Hot Cells to be used for a Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) technology demonstration project starting in late 2007.
The Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC) currently is used to extract the isotopes produced in HFIR, including isotopes of transuranium elements. These isotopes are used in many applications, including cancer treatment and homeland security applications. However, REDC will also be used in the demonstration of technologies needed to pursue GNEP goals. Work in that area is underway and is expected to continue through 2008.
| Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC) |
| Description: |
Remotely-operated hot cell facility for primary alpha emitters of high specific activity. Serves as a heavy element recovery, purification, storage and distribution center, as well as an isotope processing and packaging facility. |
| Mission: |
Californium production and strategic material's recovery, and isotope production for medical and security uses. |
| Status: |
Operational |
| Building 4501 Hot Cell Facility |
| Description: |
Remotely-operated multi-user hot cell facility. For NE, serves as an isotope processing and packaging facility. |
| Mission: |
Among other missions, supports isotope production for medical and security uses. |
| Status: |
Operational |
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