An Overview of the Civilian Uses of Uranium

Contrary to the hype about the military uses of uranium, it should be known that this material has many uses in many civilian industries, including medicine, industry, animal husbandry, and the food industry, in addition to military uses.

News ID: 86280

Date: 08 June 2025 - 09:14

TEHRAN (Defapress) - In the indirect negotiations between Iran and America, one of the discussed issues that can be said to have caused conflict is the issue of enrichment inside Iran's soil. This is an issue that has been a red line from Iran's side and is presented as one of Iran's fixed and unchangeable principles.

The persistent and systematic insistence of Western powers, led by the United States of America and accompanied by some other countries and international organizations under their influence, that the Islamic Republic of Iran should not have uranium enrichment capability, is a very thought-provoking issue whose real objective in proposing it lies not in their alleged concerns about the proliferation of nuclear weapons, but in the deeper layers of strategic, geopolitical and even ideological goals.

The most important question is: what are the uses of enrichment and what needs of Iran does it meet? Why does Iran insist on domestic enrichment and consider it part of its red lines in negotiations?

To answer these questions, we must examine the uses of uranium and the effect of enrichment on them. This report has examined the most important non-military uses of uranium and its isotopes.

Non-military uses of uranium and its isotopes

Uranium is a heavy and radioactive element that has various uses. Some of its most important uses are:

1.      Nuclear energy production: Enriched uranium is used in nuclear power plants to produce electricity.

2.      Medical applications: In radiotherapy and the production of radioactive isotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

3.      Industrial applications: In making protective shields against radiation, and also in some industrial sensors.

4.      Geology and archaeology: Radiometric dating to determine the age of rocks and ancient artifacts.

What are the medical uses of uranium isotopes?

Production of radioisotopes for medical imaging: Molybdenum-99 is converted to technetium-99m, which is one of the most widely used radioisotopes in medical scans.

Uranium isotopes can play a role in producing radioisotopes such as molybdenum-99. This isotope is used in nuclear medicine for imaging internal body organs.

Radiotherapy for cancer treatment

This method is especially used in the treatment of thyroid cancer and other cancers. Some uranium-derived isotopes are used in radiotherapy to target cancer cells and prevent their growth.

Uranium isotopes are not directly used in cancer treatment, but some radioisotopes derived from uranium play a role in radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. Due to their radioactive properties, these isotopes can target cancer cells and prevent their growth.

Stages of using uranium radioisotopes in cancer treatment

Production of therapeutic radioisotopes: These isotopes play an indirect role in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Some uranium-derived isotopes, such as molybdenum-99, are used in nuclear medicine to produce technetium-99m, which is used in medical imaging.

Radiotherapy using radioactive isotopes

These isotopes are placed near or inside the tumor to destroy cancer cells. Some radioactive isotopes are used in internal radiotherapy (brachytherapy) to treat specific cancers such as thyroid cancer.

Use of gamma and beta rays

This method destroys the DNA of cancer cells and prevents their proliferation. Uranium-derived isotopes can emit gamma and beta rays that are used to precisely target cancer cells.

Doctors use nuclear medical imaging to examine the effect of treatment on cancer cells.

Sterilization of medical equipment

This method eliminates microbes and pathogens without the need for high heat.

Radiation from uranium isotopes can be used to sterilize medical and surgical instruments.

Medical and pharmaceutical research

Uranium isotopes are used in some medical studies to investigate how drugs are absorbed in the body and to track organ function.

Medical uses of uranium-235: Production of radioisotopes: Uranium-235 is in some cases used to produce radioactive isotopes such as molybdenum-99, which is used in medical imaging (such as nuclear medicine scans).

Radiation therapy: Some isotopes derived from uranium-235 are used in radiotherapy to treat cancers. These isotopes can target cancer cells and prevent their growth.

Sterilization of medical equipment: Radiation from uranium-235 can be used to sterilize medical and surgical instruments.

Uranium isotopes in medicine are mainly used in nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. Due to their radioactive properties, these isotopes are used in the diagnosis and treatment of some diseases.

What are the industrial uses of uranium?

Due to its high density and ability to absorb radioactive rays, uranium is used in making protective shields to prevent radiation penetration. These shields are used in various environments, including:

Protection in medical and industrial equipment

In hospitals and medical centers that use radiotherapy devices and imaging with X-rays or gamma rays, uranium plates are used to protect staff and patients from harmful radiation.

Protection in nuclear facilities

In nuclear power plants and research laboratories, uranium shields are used to prevent the release of radioactive radiation into the surrounding environment. These shields are usually used in walls, floors, and ceilings of control rooms and nuclear reactors.

Use in military industries

Depleted uranium is used in military armor and radiation-resistant vehicles. This material can prevent the penetration of radioactive rays as well as some physical attacks.

Use in the transportation of radioactive materials

For the safe transportation of radioactive materials, containers made of depleted uranium are used. These containers prevent the release of dangerous radiation into the environment.

Use of uranium in fission chambers

A fission chamber is a type of neutron detector that is used to measure neutron flux in nuclear reactors. Uranium plays an important role in these chambers because it can undergo fission and absorb free neutrons.

How is uranium used in fission chambers?

A layer of uranium: Inside the fission chamber, a thin layer of uranium (usually uranium-235 or uranium-238) is placed.

Neutron collision: Neutrons released from the nuclear reactor collide with this uranium layer and cause nuclear fission.

Production of charged particles: As a result of fission, charged particles such as ions and electrons are produced, which are collected by the chamber electrodes.

Measurement of electric current: These charged particles create an electric current in the chamber that can be measured to determine the neutron flux.

Applications of uranium isotopes in animal husbandry

Tracking mineral absorption: Some radioactive isotopes may be used to examine the absorption of essential elements such as calcium and phosphorus in livestock.

Metabolism studies: In scientific research, radioisotopes are used to study how nutrients are processed in animals' bodies.

Disease control: Some nuclear medical imaging methods that use radioactive isotopes may be used in diagnosing livestock diseases.

Applications of uranium isotopes in the food industry

Analysis of food compounds: Some radioactive isotopes are used to examine the chemical composition of foods and determine the amount of mineral elements.

Pollution tracking: In some studies, radioactive isotopes are used to examine the amount of metal pollution and harmful substances in food products.

Control of production processes: Some isotopes are used in industrial tests to examine food production processes and optimize preservation methods.

Geological and archaeological applications of uranium isotopes

Uranium isotopes play an important role in geology and archaeology, especially in determining the age of rocks and ancient artifacts. These applications help scientists gain a deeper understanding of Earth's history and past civilizations. Uranium has important applications in geology, particularly in determining the age of rocks and minerals, as well as in geochemical studies. Some precise applications of uranium in geology are:

Radiometric dating

Uranium-238 and uranium-235 isotopes are used in radiometric dating methods to determine the age of rocks and fossils. These isotopes gradually turn into lead, and by measuring the uranium-to-lead ratio, the exact age of geological samples can be determined.

Geochemical and mineralogical studies

Uranium is found in some igneous and sedimentary rocks and can indicate geological processes such as magmatic activities and metamorphism. Geochemical studies of uranium help geologists examine the composition and origin of rocks.

Study of geological changes

Uranium isotopes are found in various rocks and can provide information about magmatic activities and geological processes. These studies help geologists better understand Earth's history.

Identification of mineral deposits

The presence of uranium in rocks can indicate the existence of other valuable elements such as thorium and rare earth elements. This method is used in mineral exploration and geochemical studies.

Study of ancient artifacts and fossils

Uranium isotopes are used to determine the age of fossils and ancient artifacts.