Question

The compound used in enrichment of uranium for nuclear power plant is

Answer 1

Most of the 500 commercial nuclear power reactors operating or under construction in the world today require uranium 'enriched' in the U-235 isotope for their fuel.

The commercial process employed for this enrichment involves gaseous uranium in centrifuges. An Australian process based on laser excitation is under development in the USA.

Prior to enrichment, uranium oxide must be converted to a fluoride so that it can be processed as a gas, at low temperature.

From a non-proliferation standpoint, uranium enrichment is a sensitive technology needing to be subject to tight international control.

There is a significant surplus of world enrichment capacity.