Uranium Enrichment Technologies

Uranium enrichment is a process that increases the concentration of the uranium-235 isotope, which is essential for nuclear reactors and weapons. Natural uranium has about 0.7% U-235, but enriched uranium contains higher percentages—typically 3-5% for power plants. Technologies like gas centrifuges spin uranium hexafluoride gas at high speeds, separating U-235 from U-238 based on their slight mass differences. Other methods include gaseous diffusion and laser enrichment. These processes must be carefully controlled and monitored due to their dual-use nature, as they can also be used to produce weapons-grade uranium.