Eslami: Agency has approved Isfahan Research Reactor for the development of education

According to the international group Tasnim news agency, at the same time On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Mohammad Eslami, the vice president and head of the Atomic Energy Organization, visited Isfahan, and the semi-industrial unit for the production of “tellurium hexafluoride” was launched at the UCF site.

Tellurium hexafluoride (TeF6) is used as a raw material of stable radioisotopes for medical use, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Tellurium powder naturally has 8 isotopes, each of which can be enriched and separated. By converting tellurium powder into natural tellurium hexafluoride gas, it is possible to enrich TeF6 gas, which in the next stages, by turning into oxide or metal and irradiating in the reactor, produces radionuclides such as iodine 124, which is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of some diseases and cancers. . In the world, only a limited number of countries have the technology to produce this valuable material.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization during the launch of this semi-industrial unit, pointing out that this unit is an objective crystallization. It is a knowledge-based economy, he told reporters: With the efforts of our colleagues and the network of partner companies, today we exploited one of our most important achievements in the field of isotope separation, which is an extraordinary value chain and an objective crystallization of the knowledge-based economy. . This production line, which is “tellurium hexafluoride”, is the main input material for the production of iodine 131, which is used as a radiopharmaceutical for the treatment and diagnosis of thyroid.

. We can produce all kinds of materials needed by the industrial and medical sectors; In an intensive research, engineering and industrial development operation, it happened within a year, he added: Our production capacity today, which is in a semi-industrial pilot, meets the country’s needs. The design is such that it can be added in a modular way and another capacity can be added next to it and increase the production line that has an export aspect.

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization in He continued: “We will witness another step during our visit to Isfahan today, that the first 10 MW research reactor project, which is a 100% domestic design, which we started implementing last year, went according to plan.” Today’s big event is that the first concreting will begin. Islami clarified: In the process of designing and building reactors, the first event is the beginning of detailed studies, preparation and Equipping and preparing the plans and the second event is the beginning of concreting that we are in the second event today and thank God that we went according to the plan and we can move forward according to the schedule.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization, pointing out that the educational and research part of the Isfahan site will be designed today, said: “Today we have another action on the agenda, that we designed a part of the Isfahan site, which is an educational and research center. Its first phase is being operated today and is known as one of the nuclear poles in this region of the world.

Islami said in the end: We have three research reactors. With the start of the fourth reactor, it will become an internationally recognized center. Considering that the agency has approved this center as one of the centers it needs for the development of education, I hope we can use it both to help universities and for the education and training of manpower needed by the nuclear industry.

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