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SILEX - Separation of Isotopes by Laser EXcitation

Silex is pioneering the development and commercialisation of its proprietary laser-based isotope separation technology known as SILEX.

The unique SILEX technology has a number of potential commercial applications, including:

  Uranium Enrichment - nuclear fuel for electricity production.
  Silicon Enrichment - for advanced semiconductor materials.
  Carbon Enrichment - for advanced semiconductor and medical diagnostic materials.

Together with development partners, SILEX is leading the world in developing technologies to create and utilise a new generation of ultra-pure "isotopically engineered" materials.

Uranium Isotopes

uranium diagram

Nuclear Fuel requires Uranium "enriched" in the 235 isotope.

The SILEX Uranium Enrichment Process is the world's only third generation laser-based technology under development today.

The SILEX technology has a number of potential advantages over existing isotope separation processes including:

Low power consumption and capital costs.
Modular technology providing versatility in deployment.

SILEX technology utilises lasers to separate or enrich the naturally occurring isotopes of an element to create ‘new’ materials with different qualities. This technology results in applications with potentially significant market value.

Potential Applications include:



Nuclear	Semiconductor	Medical Diagnostic

Uranium	Silicon	Carbon

Gadolinium	Carbon	Oxygen

Uranium

Historically, Uranium Enrichment has been Silex’s primary focus.

Uranium Enrichment is a technically difficult process, and is key to producing fuel for the global Nuclear Power industry, which currently provides approximately 16% of the world’s electricity.

	SILEX	CENTRIFUGE	GAS DIFFUSION
SILEX v Existing Technologies
DEVELOPED	2000’s	1940’s	1940’s
PROCESS	Laser Excitation	Mechanical (‘centrifugal force’)	Mechanical (‘brute force’)
ENRICHMENT EFFICIENCY	2 to 20(1)	1.3	1.004
COST COMPARISON	Potentially Attractive	Capital Intensive	Very expensive
% OF EXISTING MARKET(2)	0%	54%	33%
STATUS	Under Development 3rd Generation	Proven 2nd Generation	Obsolescent 1st Generation

(1) This number is Classified - the range indicated is dictated by the technology Classification Guide
(2) Approximately 13% supplied via Russian HEU material

The largest market for nuclear fuel is the USA, which currently relies on over 100 nuclear power plants for more than 20% of its electricity requirements. Silex has traditionally viewed the US market as the most likely home for SILEX Uranium Enrichment technology, and this was confirmed with the signing of a Commercialisation and Licence Agreement with General Electric Company (GE) in May 2006. The Silex-GE Agreement is detailed below.

In May 2000, the US-Australian Agreement for Cooperation for the development of SILEX Technology was approved by the US Government. In June 2001, the SILEX Technology was officially Classified by the US and Australian Governments, bringing the project formally under the security and regulatory protocols of each country.

The Uranium application of SILEX is currently in the third and final stage of development - called the "Test Loop". In accordance with the SILEX-GE Agreement, the Test Loop program is being fully funded by Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), a subsidiary of GE (51%) formed in partnership with Hitach (25%) and Cameco (24%). The Test Loop, which is being built at GE's nuclear (Fuel Fabrication) facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, will verify performance and reliability data for full scale (commercial-like) facilities. This key engineering demonstration program is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2009.

Following successfull completion of the Test Loop Program, GLE will decide weather to proceed with a commercial production facility, potentially starting construction of the initial "Lead Cascade" production facility after the receipt of the relevant licence from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), expected at the beginning of 2012. This plant which will have a significant production capacity, will also be built at the Wilmington site at GLE's cost.

The GE - SILEX Agreement - Summary

Exclusive Worldwide Commercialisation and License Agreement for the SILEX Uranium Enrichment Technology.
Joint Technology Development Program - funded by GLE.
Initial payment US$5M received 24 June, 2006 following preliminary US Government Approval.
US$15M upon reciept of final US Government Approval (received in October 2006).
US$15M upon successful completion of Test Loop Program and receipt of the License for the Lead Cascade Program.
US$20M upon successful completion of Lead Cascade Program
Perpetual Royalty:
Base Royalty of 7% of revenues from use of SILEX Technology
Additional Royalty of up to 5% (ie, maximum Royalty of 12%) based on total cost of deployment (lower cost = higher royalty).

The Nuclear Fuel Industry:
diagramA

Silicon

Semiconductor devices, which are integral to all computer and electronic systems, are generally made from silicon.

Today’s computer chips and electronic devices are reaching their performance barriers, due to the technical limitations involved with using silicon in its existing form. Thermal management is one such issue.

diagramB

Enriched Silicon-28 wafers may improve thermal management.

Thers is interest in the potential benefits of using isotopically pure silicon in advanced semiconductor applications.

To date, no economically viable source of enriched silicon has emerged. The company has examined the technical and commercial feasibility of producing enriched silicon using SILEX Technology. If the cost-benefit proposition improves in the future, this project will be re-activated.

Carbon

Synthetic diamond heat spreaders and heat sinks, made today from natural carbon, are also used in the semiconductor industry. Research shows that synthetic diamond made from enriched carbon also exhibits significantly improved thermal conductivity.

The potential for SILEX Technology to produce enriched Carbon–12 is being investigated. The ‘by-product’ from this application (Carbon–13) is already used extensively in biomedical applications, and could therefore add value to a SILEX carbon isotope separation venture if persued in the future.

Oxygen

Oxygen-18 is used in several different fields, including scientific research, geology and medical imaging. By far the biggest demand for Oxygen-18 is for Positron Emission Topography (PET) medical imaging. The market for this application is currently in the order of US$100m and although growing by volume, has come under economic pressure from over-production since 2007.

Oxygen-18 is currently produced via old and ineffecient distillation techniques. The potential for highly effecient production with SILEX Technology could result in significant economuc value for the company if the current over-supply situation dissipates in the future.