Minor actinide

Minor actinides are the actinide elements in used nuclear fuel other than uranium and plutonium, which are termed the 'major actinides'. The minor actinides include neptunium, americium, curium, berkelium, californium, einsteinium, fermium, mendelevium, nobelium and lawrencium. They are present in spent nuclear fuel and in nuclear waste.

Characteristics

Minor actinides are typically heavy, man-made elements that can be created in a nuclear reactor. They are highly radioactive and have a long half-life, which makes them a significant challenge for long-term storage and disposal. They also have the potential to be used in the production of nuclear weapons, which makes their control a significant issue for non-proliferation efforts.

Production and Use

Minor actinides are produced in nuclear reactors as a byproduct of the fission of uranium and plutonium. They can also be produced in particle accelerators. Some minor actinides, such as americium and curium, have practical applications. For example, americium is used in smoke detectors and curium is used in medical equipment.

Disposal and Management

The disposal and management of minor actinides is a significant challenge due to their long half-lives and high radioactivity. One approach to managing minor actinides is through transmutation, where they are converted into other, less harmful, elements through nuclear reactions. Another approach is geological disposal, where they are stored deep underground.

See Also

• Actinide
• Nuclear fuel
• Nuclear waste
• Transmutation (nuclear)
• Geological disposal