Future Sources of Plutonium

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

Table 2.1.

Isotopic Composition of Three Grades of Plutonium: Heat Source, Weapons, and Reactor

Isotope

Heat Source

Weapons Grade

Reactor Grade

238

90.0

<0.05

1.5

239

9.1

93.6

58.1

240

0.6

6.0

24.1

241

0.03

0.4

11.4

242

<0.01

<0.05

4.9

Overviews of plutonium process chemistry at DOE's Hanford, Los Alamos, Rocky Flats,

and Savannah River sites are given by Christensen et al. (1983), Baldwin and Navratil

(1983), Coops et al. (1983), and Christensen and Mullins (1983). In each case, solutions for

recovery, purification, and waste treatment operations are emphasized. Technology under

consideration for incorporation in Weapons Complex 21 is described by Christensen (1992).

2.1.1 Future Sources of Plutonium

High-exposure plutonium, i.e., plutonium containing significant fractions of 240Pu, 241Pu, and

242

Pu, is produced in power reactor fuels. Currently, this form of plutonium is in the

irradiated fuel in spent-fuel storage basins and other sources resulting from development

work performed to demonstrate plutonium fuel cycles. Because recycling of commercial

reactor fuel is not anticipated, future supplies of plutonium will be primarily from DOE

production facilities and from reprocessing of current material. In the more distant future,

liquid metal fast breeder reactors (LMFBRs) may be a potential source of plutonium.

Special isotopes of reasonably high purity are also available, which can be useful to health

physicists for calibration purposes. These isotopes and their sources are listed in Table 2.2.

New sources of plutonium include the return of atomic weapon components and plutonium

recovered from decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) operations. Foreign

plutonium from states of the former Soviet Union may become an additional source. Their

weapons-grade plutonium is believed to contain 5% 240Pu. Americium is not periodically

removed from their stockpile material.

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