ASP Isotopes

It would appear that our competition (ASP Isotopes) is claiming the have an operating ¹⁷⁶Yb isotope separation plant (see https://www.morningstar.com/news/globe-newswire/9224087/asp-isotopes-inc-completes-construction-phase-of-ytterbium-176-enrichment-facility). As I understand it their technology was purchased from Klydon (see HERE)

World Nuclear Assoc (WNA) literature (see HERE) claims "The Aerodynamic Separation Process (ASP) being developed by Klydon in South Africa employs similar stationary-wall centrifuges with UF6 injected tangentially. It is based on Helikon but pending regulatory authorization it has not yet been tested on UF6 - only light isotopes such as silicon. However, extrapolating from results there it is expected to have an enrichment factor in each unit of 1.10 (cf 1.03 in Helikon) with about 500 kWh/SWU and development of it is aiming for 1.15 enrichment factor and less than 500 kWh/SWU. Projections give an enrichment cost under $100/SWU, with this split evenly among capital, operation and energy input" Other literature (from 2012) see HERE) would indicate relatively low enrichment factors (compared to Silex)

Company literature is somewhat more optimistic (and may reflect some development) but is does appear that the process requires a lot of energy but is evidently more efficient for light elements (the mass ratio is higher). In this context I find it somewhat interesting that ASP Isotopes are targeting ytterbium 176 which is a heavy element (and the one targeted by SLX for the MIST project - SLX claim 99%) purity - I don't know how important this is). It would also be interesting to find out what purity the ASP isotopes products achieve (for example SLX claim 99.995% for ²⁸Si where the purity is vitally important)