To prepare uranium for use in a CANDU reactor, the uranium ore is first mined and then processed to extract uranium concentrate, often referred to as yellowcake (U3O8). This concentrate is then converted into uranium hexafluoride (UF6) through chemical processes. The UF6 undergoes enrichment to increase the proportion of the fissile isotope uranium-235, after which it is converted back into uranium dioxide (UO2) powder. Finally, the UO2 is sintered and fabricated into fuel pellets, which are assembled into fuel bundles for use in the reactor.
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