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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method of increasing the deterrent to proliferation of nuclear fuels

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6982999
A process is claimed of recycling protactinium-231 to enhance the utilization of radioactively hot uranium-232 in nuclear fuel for the purpose of making both fresh and spent fuel more resistant to proliferation. The uranium-232 may be obtained by the irradiation of protactinium-231 which is normally found in the spent fuel rods of a thorium base nuclear reactor. The production of protactinium-231 and uranium-232 would be made possible by the use of the thorium uranium-233 fuel cycle in power reactors.
Assignee:
Department Of Energy
Patent Number(s):
US 4344912
OSTI ID:
6982999
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English