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Study of the /sup 233/U--/sup 232/Th reactor as a burner for actinide wastes

Conference · · Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ.; (United States)
OSTI ID:7290992
A plausible method for reducing the storage problems and hazards now associated with long-lived actinide wastes might be to recycle and convert these to fission products. Several reactor types can be envisaged for this purpose. It is noted that in a /sup 233/U-/sup 232/Th reactor, the production of /sup 237/Np, Pu and transplutonium isotopes is greatly reduced compared to a /sup 235/U-/sup 238/U reactor because several additional neutron captures are required to reach the same mass. Hence, the /sup 233/U-/sup 232/Th reactor can be employed to effectively reduce Np, Pu, Am and Cm wastes to fission-product wastes which entail shorter (approximately 1000 yr) storage times.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
OSTI ID:
7290992
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Natl. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Spec. Publ.; (United States) Journal Volume: 1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English