Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has developed a faster way to produce californium-252 (Cf-252), a rare radioactive isotope used to start nuclear reactors and support national security. The new process can reduce production time by about one week, helping the lab prepare for growing demand while keeping the same product quality.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) says demand for californium-252 is expected to rise as more nuclear energy projects move forward in the United States. ORNL is currently the only producer of this isotope in the Western world.
The new process was created by Dr. Lætitia Delmau, Distinguished R&D Staff Member, together with the ORNL californium-252 team. The work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Isotope R&D and Production. According to ORNL, the project took nearly ten years of research and testing before it was ready for full use.
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Californium-252 is important because it releases neutrons that help start nuclear reactors. It is also used to inspect fresh reactor fuel, improve port security, support national security programs, measure oil and gas wells, analyze coal, and calibrate scientific instruments. As more nuclear reactors are planned, demand for the isotope is expected to grow.
The older production method required lowering the acidity of the chemical solution before separating californium-252 from other radioactive materials. That step alone took about a week. The new method uses a neutral solvent that works directly in a highly acidic solution. This removes unwanted materials much faster while producing the same result. During testing, the new process removed about 95% of unwanted isotopes in a single cycle. ORNL shared these results in its report.
The faster process means ORNL can produce more californium-252 without changing its two-year production schedule. Saving time inside the lab’s heavily shielded hot cells also lowers operating costs because those facilities are expensive to use. This improvement could help support future nuclear power projects and other industries that rely on the isotope.
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The process still has some limits. ORNL will continue making californium-252 every two years because of production costs, limited facility availability, and the isotope’s 2.6-year half-life, which means it naturally loses half of its radioactivity over that time. The lab also plans additional improvements before using the new process in future production campaigns.
This development matters because it helps increase the supply of a material that is difficult to produce and widely used in nuclear science. As interest in nuclear energy grows, a faster production method could make it easier to meet future demand while improving efficiency. According to ORNL, the new process is expected to become the standard method for future californium-252 production.
