Reactor-grade plutonium

Reactor-grade plutonium is a type of plutonium that is produced in a nuclear reactor. It is distinguished from weapons-grade plutonium by its isotopic composition, which makes it less suitable for use in nuclear weapons but still useful for certain types of nuclear power generation.

Production

Reactor-grade plutonium is produced in a nuclear reactor when uranium-238 absorbs a neutron. This process creates plutonium-239, which is the primary isotope in weapons-grade plutonium. However, in a typical nuclear reactor, the plutonium-239 also absorbs neutrons and transforms into other isotopes of plutonium, including plutonium-240, plutonium-241, and plutonium-242. These isotopes are less suitable for use in nuclear weapons due to their higher rates of spontaneous fission, which can cause a weapon to pre-detonate and result in a lower yield.

Use in nuclear power

Despite its unsuitability for weapons use, reactor-grade plutonium can still be used in certain types of nuclear power generation. In particular, it can be used in fast breeder reactors, which are designed to create more fissile material than they consume. This is done by surrounding the reactor core with a "blanket" of uranium-238, which absorbs neutrons and transforms into plutonium. The plutonium can then be reprocessed and used as fuel, effectively extending the life of the uranium fuel supply.

Safety and proliferation concerns

While reactor-grade plutonium is less suitable for weapons use than weapons-grade plutonium, it is still possible to use it to create a nuclear weapon. However, such a weapon would be less reliable and have a lower yield than one made with weapons-grade plutonium. This has led to concerns about the potential for nuclear proliferation if reactor-grade plutonium were to fall into the wrong hands.

In addition, the reprocessing of reactor-grade plutonium presents safety and environmental challenges. The process involves handling highly radioactive materials and produces waste that must be safely stored for thousands of years. These issues have led some countries to abandon plutonium reprocessing and instead focus on once-through fuel cycles that do not involve reprocessing.

See also

• Plutonium-239
• Nuclear proliferation
• Fast breeder reactor
• Nuclear reprocessing