NNSA and DOE partners mark major achievement in nuclear materials recovery

The retrieval of key isotopes advances the President's goal of reinvigorating the nuclear industrial base

WASHINGTON - The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Environmental Management (EM), and Office of Science collaborated to achieve a significant milestone in transforming Cold War-era legacy materials into critical national assets. The successful transfer of the first Mark-18A target at the Savannah River Site (SRS) to the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) marks the beginning of operations for a newly established radiochemical separation capability to recover valuable isotopes.

The multi-year Mark-18A Target Recovery Program establishes a new radiochemical process at SRNL that fulfills mission needs across the DOE/NNSA complex. By combining EM's environmental cleanup prowess with NNSA's national security expertise, the team demonstrated how legacy materials previously destined for disposal can be recovered and transformed into valuable resources. This project supports the bold priorities outlined in President Trump's Executive Order on Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base, specifically those aimed at strengthening the domestic nuclear fuel cycle and expanding the nuclear energy workforce.

The Mark-18A targets contain significant quantities of heavy curium and the world's only supply of unseparated plutonium-244. Plutonium-244, which is incredibly rare, is useful in nuclear forensics. The heavy curium will later be converted into californium-252, which is a vital start-up source for nuclear reactors, among other uses.

"Beyond the intrinsic value of the recovered isotopes, this project signifies the reestablishment of capabilities that have been lost since the Cold War," said Ahmad Al-Daouk, NNSA Associate Administrator for the Office of Environment, Safety, and Health, "This commences operations at an opportune time, coinciding with the nuclear renaissance and supporting multiple priorities outlined in the recent Presidential executive orders on nuclear energy."

"EM's role in this endeavor goes beyond safe storage; it's about proactive stewardship and unlocking the inherent value within our legacy materials," said Edwin Deshong, Savannah River Operations Office Manager. "The transfer of this first target is a testament to the seamless integration of our environmental cleanup mission, while turning historical waste materials into strategic resources for the nation."

"Startup of this project is a giant leap forward for our lab," said Chris Armstrong, Program Manager for the Mark-18A Program. "This is the culmination of many years of effort involving scores of talented and dedicated staff. We have launched a new nuclear recovery capability at SRNL as a first step to providing high-value isotopes to meet critical U.S. government missions."

The initiative provides hands-on opportunities for scientists, engineers, and technical personnel to address challenges presented by the nuclear industry and nonproliferation policy. This recovery process was largely designed, constructed, and programmed at SRS. It also sharpens the staff's experience in radiochemical processing system design as well as construction and operation. It reflects the commitment of NNSA and DOE to advance the President's nuclear agenda, reinvigorate the workforce, and expand the nuclear industrial base.