How are gas centrifuges used to separate uranium-235 from uranium-238 compounds?

To separate uranium-235 from uranium-238, the uranium is first converted into a gaseous compound called uranium hexafluoride (UF₆). This gas is then fed into a high-speed centrifuge.12

Inside the spinning rotor, the gas is subjected to a strong centrifugal field. Because the molecules of ²³⁵UF₆ are lighter than those of ²³⁸UF₆, the two isotopes experience different centripetal forces. As a result, the heavier ²³⁸UF₆ molecules tend to accumulate along the outer walls of the centrifuge, while the lighter ²³⁵UF₆ molecules concentrate toward the center (or axis) of the spinning device. These separated mixtures are then siphoned off.23

This method is significantly more energy-efficient than gaseous diffusion. Because the separation achieved in a single pass is relatively small, the process is typically repeated many times to reach the desired level of isotope enrichment for use in nuclear power or other applications.324