About Urenco Isotopes
Urenco Isotopes develops and supplies enriched and depleted stable isotopes and custom isotope materials for use across medical, industrial and research applications.
With over 35 years of experience, and operating from our facility in Almelo, the Netherlands, we apply Urenco’s proven centrifuge technology to deliver high-purity isotopes with a strong focus on safety, quality and reliability.
For more detailed information on our products and applications, visit the Urenco Isotopes website.
How do we enrich and deplete isotopes?
Urenco applies advanced gas centrifuge technology to achieve precise isotope separation at high levels of enrichment or depletion.
The starting material is converted into a gas and introduced into centrifuges, which rotate at extremely high speeds. This spinning motion separates isotopes based on mass, with heavier isotopes moving towards the outer edge and lighter isotopes concentrating towards the centre. The separated materials are continuously extracted and processed until the required level of enrichment or depletion is achieved.
This process, known as isotope enrichment or isotope depletion, enables the production of high-purity isotopes tailored to specific applications.
Applications of Urenco isotopes
Medical
Our isotopes are used in a range of medical applications worldwide, supporting both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Around 2 million treatments are carried out using Urenco isotopes each year.
Diagnostic imaging
Diagnostic imaging Isotopes support nuclear imaging techniques such as gamma imaging and positron emission tomography (PET), enabling the assessment of organ function and the detection of disease.
Theraputic Applications
Radioisotopes are used in targeted treatments, including brachytherapy, where radiation is applied directly at the site of disease.
Cancer care
Isotopes are also used in treatments and supportive care for conditions such as prostate, breast and lung cancer.
Industrial
Urenco Isotopes support a range of industrial applications, particularly in nuclear, non-destructive testing and semiconductor environments.
Nuclear industry
Isotopes such as zinc are used to manage corrosion and reduce radiation build-up in reactor cooling systems, supporting safe and efficient plant operation. Isotopes are applied in radiography techniques to examine materials and structures without causing damage, supporting quality control and safety.
Semiconductor production
High-purity silicon isotopes are used in advanced materials research and semiconductor development, including applications in emerging quantum technologies, where isotopic purity can improve device performance by reducing quantum decoherence.
Research
Urenco’s stable isotopes are widely used in scientific research across a variety of disciplines.
Materials research
Isotopic composition is used to study and improve the performance and lifetime of materials in demanding environments, including nuclear applications.
Nuclear physics
Enriched isotopes are used in fundamental research, including neutrino detection and the study of atomic structure.