Fluxnium unveils seawater uranium extraction tech to fuel US nuclear expansion
Fluxnium says its new polymer-fiber system can pull uranium from seawater, offering a domestic source for nuclear fuel as the US seeks to expand capacity.
Jeff Green’s clean-tech company Fluxnium has revealed a process for extracting uranium from the ocean using polymer fibers that bind the element and can be regenerated repeatedly. Licensed from the Department of Energy, the fibers are deployed from buoys for up to two months, then recovered and processed into yellowcake without producing toxic tailings. By boosting the fibers’ surface area, the firm claims it can bring extraction costs down from over $200 per pound to a competitive level.
The venture, which has been operating in stealth, closed a $7 million seed round led by Congruent Ventures with participation from Active Impact Investments and Constellation Energy, the operator of the nation’s largest nuclear fleet. If successful, the technology could provide a virtually limitless domestic uranium supply, easing geopolitical risks and supporting the United States’ plan to triple nuclear capacity by mid-century.
Why it matters
Domestic seawater uranium could secure fuel for the US nuclear expansion and reduce dependence on foreign supplies.
In this story
