Marathon Fusion, a rising fusion-powered energy startup, just dropped such a bombshell. Their latest patent is for a process that turns mercury into gold—while generating clean energy, too. This exciting new concept depends on the application of cutting edge nuclear fusion technology. This includes bombarding the isotope 198Hg with fast neutrons produced by Deuterium-Tritium fusion. The ramifications from this new evolution could change both domestic energy production and global precious metal markets.
This novel process starts with the irradiation of 198Hg by fast neutrons. On nuclear bombardment, this stable mercury isotope changes form to the short lived isotope 197Hg. Importantly, 197Hg has a half-life of only ~64 hours. This means that it cannot go on to decay into stable gold, which is known as 197Au. This shift might just provide the perfect solution to how we produce our energy and generate valuable gold along the way.
The Science Behind the Transformation
Marathon Fusion’s approach is based on a sequence of (n, 2n) reactions. In these reactions, which are called “fission reactions,” one neutron is absorbed and two neutrons are emitted. Specifically, the company has created a lithium/mercury alloy sodium immobilization blanket. This novel approach focuses on maximizing the effectiveness of neutron interactions and increasing the reaction overall.
The rapid decay of 197Hg into gold means that this pathway to gold production is highly efficient. The gold extracted has to be less radioactive than a banana. Only when it passes these tests can it ever be considered safe to use. Once produced, the gold must cool for at least 17.7 years. Only then is it safe to use.
The Brooklyn-based startup wants to achieve this combination of gold production and clean energy on an economic scale. Reality is that introduction of this technology could be several more years away. Until now, research had only simulated the idea, without putting it into practice.
Economic Viability and Market Impact
Marathon Fusion is excited that the addition of this process could dramatically improve the economic attractiveness of fusion energy. The company stated, “Implementation of this concept allows fusion power plants to double the revenue generated by the system, dramatically enhancing the economic viability of fusion energy.”
This claim focuses on the huge profits that energy companies stand to make. It points to the more significant consequences, which include disruption to the global energy market. We all know that the world is moving toward a clean energy economy. If successful, innovations suggested by Marathon Fusion will make major strides toward achieving a more sustainable future.
Additionally, authorities have spoken to the development’s market ramifications, given the unique provision of this new gold-making process. According to Adam Rutkowski and colleagues, “In practice, given that much of all gold is used to store value and is not actively in use, we do not expect the need to store it for 7–17 years to be a major impediment; at worst, it means that the product will initially have somewhat less value than pure 197Au, and so some discount should be applied to the value of freshly produced gold.”
This change suggests that prospective investors and business partners are likely very receptive to waiting for the cooling period of newly struck gold. They continue to see the intrinsic value of this invaluable resource.
Future Prospects and Challenges
While Marathon Fusion’s claims are visionary, many hurdles lie ahead before this process can be deployed on a commercial basis. The technology needs a lot more real world testing and validation beyond any simulation-based testing. In addition, considerable regulatory hurdles associated with every nuclear process and their radioactivity must be overcome.
Moving forward, as research continues to progress, it will be important for Marathon Fusion to prove that their techniques are scientifically possible. They need to show that these approaches can be economically viable in real-world settings. The potential impact on both energy generation and precious metal markets could be substantial if these challenges are successfully addressed.