Systems and methods for efficiently preparing plutonium-238 with high isotopic purity

A system for preparing plutonium-238 (Pu-238) using neutrons, the system comprising:

• an irradiation unit receiving a liquid comprising neptunium-237 (Np-237) hexafluoride and receiving the neutrons for a sufficient amount of time such that the neutrons convert a portion of the Np-237 hexafluoride to neptunium-238 (Np-238) hexafluoride, resulting in a first liquid mixture comprising Np-237 hexafluoride and Np-238 hexafluoride;
• first piping coupled to the irradiation unit;
• a decay unit coupled to the first piping,
• the decay unit comprising at least one retention tank continuously receiving the first liquid mixture from the irradiation unit via the first piping,
• the at least one retention tank is arranged to retain the first liquid mixture for a sufficient amount of time for the Np-238 hexafluoride to at least partially convert to plutonium-238 (Pu-238) hexafluoride, resulting in a second liquid mixture comprising Np-237 hexafluoride, Np-238 hexafluoride, and Pu-238 hexafluoride;
• second piping coupled to the at least one retention tank;
• a separation unit coupled to the second piping,
• the separation unit continuously receiving the second liquid mixture from the at least one retention tank via the second piping,
• the separation unit continuously separating Np-237 hexafluoride and Np-238 hexafluoride from Pu-238 hexafluoride in the second liquid mixture based on fractional distillation,
• the separation unit continuously removing a third liquid mixture comprising the separated Np-237 hexafluoride and Np-238 hexafluoride, and
• the separation unit continuously collecting a fourth liquid mixture from which the third liquid mixture was separated,
• the fourth liquid mixture comprising Pu-238 hexafluoride;
• and
• third piping coupled to the separation unit and to the irradiation unit,
• the third piping continuously recycling the third liquid mixture from the separation unit back to the irradiation unit.