This is what Chatgpt has to say about the French (CHEMEX)...

This is what Chatgpt has to say about the French (CHEMEX) technology they worked on for the chemical enrichment of uranium:

"The French CHEMEX uranium enrichment technology was an experimental approach developed by the French in the 1960s and 1970s. It was an alternative to other more established methods of uranium enrichment like gaseous diffusion and gas centrifugation. CHEMEX (Chemical Exchange Method) was based on a liquid-liquid extraction process.

Effectiveness:

The CHEMEX technology was not highly effective or widely used. It faced several challenges, including:

1. Lower Efficiency: Compared to methods like gas centrifugation, CHEMEX was not as efficient in terms of energy usage and enrichment speed. The liquid-liquid extraction process was relatively slow and costly.

2. Technical Difficulties: The process required specialized chemicals and precise control over conditions, which led to difficulties in maintaining a practical and scalable operation.

3. Cost: The technology was costly to implement, especially when compared to other methods, making it less attractive for widespread use.

Due to these limitations, the CHEMEX method was eventually phased out, and France, like most other countries, adopted more successful methods, such as gas centrifugation, which is more efficient and widely used today.

In conclusion, while CHEMEX had some theoretical potential, it did not prove to be a practical or effective solution for large-scale uranium enrichment."

Doesn't look too much of a competitor to me