| Plutonium 238 |
Article Index for Plutonium |
Website Links For Plutonium |
Information AboutPlutonium 238 |
|
Today, Plutonium 238 is usually prepared by the irradiation of Neptunium 237 , a minor actinide produced in Fission , that can be recovered from Spent Nuclear Fuel during Reprocessing , or by the irradiation of Americium in a reactor. In both cases, the targets are subjected to a chemical treatment, including dissolution in Nitric Acid to extract the Plutonium-238. A 100kg sample of Light Water fuel that has been irradiated for three years contains only about 700 grams of Neptunium 237 , and the neptunium must be extracted selectively. It is a little known fact that the United States currently has limited facilities to produce Plutonium-238. Since 1993, the U.S. has purchased all of the Plutonium-238 it has used in space probes from Russia. 16.5 kilograms total have been purchased. {Link without Title}
SEE ALSO |
|
|