PROCESS FOR OBTAINING PLUTONIUM IN HIGH CONCENTRATION
In a reactor working with natural or enriched uranium a portion of uranium-238 is transformed into plutonium. During the development of plutonium in a uranium-238 containing fuel element the concentration of the plutonium increases more in a superficial layer than in the heart of the element until an equilibrium concentration of plutonium is attained, with the result that more than 20% of the developed plutonium may be present in this superficial layer. The superficial layer is separated from the rest of the fuel element after a certain irradiation time in the reactor, by any suitable mechanical or chemical method in order to obtain plutonium in high concentration. The same method can be used for breeding thorium-232 into uranium-233 of high concentration. (NPO)
- Research Organization:
- Originating Research Org. not identified
- NSA Number:
- NSA-15-032253
- OSTI ID:
- 4838033
- Report Number(s):
- FR 1226416
- Country of Publication:
- France
- Language:
- English
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