Table 2.1. Isotopic Composition of Three Grades of Plutonium: Heat Source, Weapons, and Reactor

DOE-STD-1128-98

Table 2.1. Isotopic Composition of Three Grades of Plutonium: Heat Source, Weapons, and

Reactor

Isotope

Heat Source

Weapons Guide

Reactor Grade

90.0

<0.05

1.5

238

9.1

93.6

58.1

239

0.6

6.0

24.1

240

0.03

0.4

11.4

241

<0.01

<0.05

4.9

242

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,

240Pu, and 242Pu, 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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