Streamlined-Rapid Chromatography Isotope Separation System (S-RCISS)

Technology Licensing Opportunity - This is not a procurement. Streamlined-Rapid Chromatography Isotope Separation System (S-RCISS) Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize the S-RCISS technology. Background: Fission product isolations from uranium samples are routinely performed for nuclear fuels analyses and for isotope production supporting homeland security applications. Current state-of-the-art methodologies employed by most nuclear laboratories include multiple, single stage gravimetric separations targeted to isolate one or multiple isotopes. The problem with these approaches is that each column is typically optimized individually for its own separation and is not directly compatible with other separations. This results in the requirement for multiple dry down steps in order to convert samples from one matrix to another. Each dry down step can take over 8 hours depending on the volume to be evaporated, can significantly increase the cost per analysis, and increase the probability for sample losses and radioactive contamination. Description: Researchers at INL have designed a single pass, streamlined, separation approach that enables isolation of fission products from a bulk uranium sample without any transpositions/evaporation steps. From this separation approach a multi-column system (S-RCISS) was designed that could be utilized to dissolve and separate uranium fission product samples in under three hours. Applications: Currently, the system is best applied to isolating key fission product isotopes supporting national and homeland security applications. With some adaption, the concept could be applied to simplifying and streamlining nuclear fuels analyses. Companies that perform routine fuels analyses may be interested in this technology. Advantages: The process can decrease the separation timeline which subsequently decreases the time per analyst per sample, which reduces costs. This process also requires significantly less analyst training and skill for success than gravimetric columns. The S-RCISS system removes analyst bias by performing separations in a semi-automated fashion. S-RCISS also significantly decreases the potential for radioactive contamination because dissolutions take place in an enclosed vented vessel. Impact: The timeline shifts from approximately one week for gravimetric separations down to less than three hours per sample. These time savings result in higher time, money, and energy efficiencies. The training savings mentioned above also translate into both time and money savings. Development: The system has been utilized on 3 different uranium-fission product targets. Chemical yields and purities have been very consistent between trials. IP Status: US Patent Application No. 16/152,893, - Systems and Methods for Separating Isotopes from a Sample of Fission Products. INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Please visit Technology Deployment's website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Jon Cook at jonathan.cook@inl.gov.