Thorium, what you need to know
What is thorium?
Thorium is a naturally occurring chemical element with the symbol Th and atomic number 90. It is a slightly radioactive metal, found in the Earth's crust in greater quantities than uranium.
Where does it come from?
It forms naturally during geological processes and is mainly extracted from minerals such as monazite. Thorium-232 is the most abundant, stable, and widely used isotope.
What is it used for?
Thorium is being studied as a promising alternative to uranium in certain types of nuclear reactors. It can be used in molten salt or fast neutron reactors, where it transforms into a fissile isotope (i.e., an atom capable
of splitting and releasing energy when struck by a neutron, thereby producing heat and electricity). Outside the nuclear field, thorium has also been used in heat-resistant metal alloys and, historically, in certain types of incandescent lamp.
Thorium at Orano
Orano Med, a subsidiary of the Orano group specializing in nuclear medicine, uses thorium-232, an isotope derived from former mining operations, to produce lead-212, an isotope used in targeted alpha therapy - an innovative therapy for treating certain cancers. Thorium-232 is converted into thorium-228, then into lead-212 in laboratories in France and the United States, before being incorporated into lead-212 radiolabeled drugs supplied
to hospitals.
This end-to-end chain enables Orano Med to provide a reliable product supply and position itself as a world leader in targeted alpha therapy.
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- www.oranomed.com Making successful Targeted Alpha Therapy a reality