Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by pfdietz 836 days ago
Sure, the input feed is not the problem. The problem is actually separating it. The technology used for the H-bombs is no longer acceptable due to mercury pollution. World Li isotope separation capacity currently is in kilograms per year (to produce pure Li-7 for pH control in fission reactors.)

And then there's the beryllium. A single one of those ARC reactors would use something like 40% of the current world annual beryllium production.