3He Rarest of Isotopes

2025

Helium-3 (³He) is a rare isotope with applications in nuclear fusion research, cryogenics, and neutron detection. Its extraction is limited due to its scarcity and the specialized processes required. The primary sources of helium-3 include:

1. Tritium Decay:

Process: ³He is produced through the beta decay of tritium (³H), a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Tritium decays into helium-3 with a half-life of approximately 12.3 years.

Application: This method is significant for obtaining helium-3 for various applications, including medical imaging and national security.

2. Natural Gas Reserves:

Occurrence: Helium-3 is found in trace amounts in certain natural gas fields. For example, samples from the Edison Mine in South Dakota have shown concentrations of 12 parts per million (ppm) of ³He to ⁴He.

Extraction: During helium extraction from natural gas, helium-3 is separated, though in small quantities, due to its low abundance.

3. Atmospheric Helium:

Concentration: Atmospheric helium contains about 1.37 parts per million (ppm) of helium-3.

Extraction: Extracting helium-3 from atmospheric helium is challenging due to the low concentration and the technical difficulties involved.

4. Lunar Regolith:

Deposition: Solar wind implants helium-3 into the Moon's surface regolith over billions of years, making the lunar surface a potential source for future extraction.

Extraction Considerations: Extracting helium-3 from the Moon poses significant technical and economic challenges, including the need for large-scale excavation and processing.

5. Nuclear Reactor Byproducts:

Production: Helium-3 can be generated as a byproduct in nuclear reactors, particularly from the decay of tritium used in reactor operations.

Extraction: Specialized facilities can extract helium-3 from reactor byproducts for use in various applications.

Given its limited natural abundance and the complexities involved in its extraction, helium-3 is considered a strategic resource. While helium extraction facilities in Kansas, Texas, and Colorado process natural gas to recover helium, the product is overwhelmingly composed of Helium-4 (⁴He), with Helium-3 (³He) constituting less than 1% of the helium content. The exact ratio of ³He to ⁴He can vary depending on the specific gas field and geological factors.

However, ³He has not been extracted commercially due to its low abundance and the lack of a viable separation process, we believe the solution is our licensed patent pending cryogenic processes.