Transmutation of {sup 137}Cs and {sup 129}I using muon-catalyzed fusion neutron source
- Royal Inst. of Tech., Stockholm (Sweden). Dept. of Nuclear and Reactor Physics
Transmutation of the radiotoxic isotopes {sup 137}Cs and {sup 129}I using a muon-catalyzed fusion ({micro}CF) neutron source is considered. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations show that each fusion neutron may transmute up to 1.7 radiotoxic nuclei, depending on geometry and choice of material. Further, it is found that chemically confining cesium atoms in the compound Cs{sub 2}O leads to higher transmutation efficiency for a given volume as compared with pure cesium. Assuming that a minimal requirement for applying transmutation to {sup 137}Cs is that the inventory half-life with respect to undergoing transmutation is less than twice the natural half-life T{sub 1/2} = 30 yr, the highest transmutation rate in a system consisting of a {micro}CF source with a maximum achievable intensity of 5 {times} 10{sup 18} n/s is {approximately}5 kg/yr, at an inventory of 300 kg. For larger inventories, the half-life becomes longer. Hence, it seems difficult to achieve a positive energy balance in the process, in contradiction with results of a previous study.
- OSTI ID:
- 638389
- Journal Information:
- Fusion Technology, Vol. 33, Issue 4; Other Information: PBD: Jul 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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