The environmental benefits of MOX recycle
This paper compares the once-through ``direct disposal`` irradiated nuclear fuel management strategy with the spent fuel reprocessing and MOX fuel recycle option in terms of three key environmental factors; volumes of waste arising, the radioactivity of those wastes and their radiotoxicity. The waste volume issue is viewed in the context of the complete fuel cycle; uranium ore mining and milling, fuel fabrication, reactor operation and irradiated fuel management. The concept of radiological toxic potential is also introduced and explained. Light Water Reactors (LWRs) form the mainstream of current and envisaged commercial nuclear reactors. Such reactors are generally loaded with enriched uranium fuels, but most can also burn MOX fuels consisting of a mixture of uranium and plutonium oxides, the plutonium substituting for fissile U235. Irradiated fuel arisings from the reactors themselves are the same irrespective of whether the direct disposal or recycle strategy is adopted. However, the utilization of the plutonium from reprocessing in MOX fuel reduces the requirement to mine and process uranium ore, with a corresponding reduction in waste arisings. This benefit is quantified in the paper and the volumes of the various categories of waste arising from the respective spent fuel management strategies are compared. In the once-through cycle, although plutonium is not separated for recycle, there is an accumulation of plutonium in the irradiated fuel which is ultimately disposed of in an underground repository. The paper investigates how the consumption of plutonium in MOX fuel effects the radioactivity and radiotoxicity of the wastes produced by reprocessing and quantifies their impact over time compared to the wastes arising from the direct disposal alternative.
- OSTI ID:
- 178121
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950917--; ISBN 0-7918-1219-7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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