Oak Ridge radiochemist tweaks techniques to extract radioisotopes for research

[Marlin]

Oak Ridge radiochemist tweaks techniques to extract radioisotopes for research

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-09-29/article-8443/oak-ridge-radiochemist-tweaks-techniques-to-extract-radioisotopes-for-research/

[Core Content]

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have updated chemical separation procedures to extract rare radioisotopes as byproducts of californium-252 production. The revised methods utilize additional chromatography columns and alternative extraction resins to increase the purity and recovery rates of berkelium, einsteinium, and fermium. These process enhancements also reduce radiation exposure for laboratory personnel handling the heavy elements.

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing techniques to improve the purification of highly valued radioisotopes that are byproducts of californium-252 production. ORNL radiochemist Cristian A. Celis-Barros is leading the effort, with the goal of enhancing yields of very small amounts of berkelium-249, einsteinium-253 and -254...

Cf-252 for industry: ORNL is the only facility in the Western Hemisphere that produces Cf-252, a neutron-emitting radioisotope that has a number of applications. It is used in the startup of nuclear reactors and to assay fresh reactor fuel, as well as in applications related to oil well logging, national security, and other purposes. The Cf-252 that is produced at ORNL is made available to an industrial consortium that fabricates and distributes the finished, sealed sources to customers around...

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-09-29/article-8443/oak-ridge-radiochemist-tweaks-techniques-to-extract-radioisotopes-for-research/