Iran can consider a 20% cap on uranium enrichment

October 25, 2012

Iran is ready to negotiate over the issue of its uranium enrichment programme. It has offered that it can put a 20% on uranium enrichment if it is assured a regular supply of nuclear fuel for its medical reactor that manufactures isotopes to treat cancer.

What is uranium enrichment?

Naturally occurring Uranium is composed of two main isotopes and ²³⁵U. the percentage of ²³⁸U is 99.284% and ²³⁵U constitutes only about 0.711% of its weight.
²³⁵U is fissile with thermal neutrons.
In order to produce nuclear bomb and naval propulsion highly enriched uranium is required.
Enriched uranium is a type of uranium in which the percent composition of uranium-235 has been increased through the process of isotope separation. Enriched uranium is also called Oralloy.

What is highly enriched uranium?

Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) has a greater than 20% concentration of ²³⁵U or ²³³U.
The fissile uranium in nuclear weapons usually contains 85% or more of ²³⁵U known as weapon(s)-grade.
The very first uranium bomb, Little Boy dropped on Hiroshima in 1945, used 64 kilograms of 80% enriched uranium.

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