Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling

Bruno Pellaud

doi:10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6

Du combustible nucléaire aux déchets : recherches actuelles/From nuclear fuels to waste: current research

Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling
[Prolifération et recyclage du plutonium]

Bruno Pellaud ¹

¹ Nuclear Consultant, Chemin de la Bourgeoisie 3, CH-1977 Icogne, Switzerland

Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 3 (2002) no. 7-8, pp. 1067-1079.

Résumé
Abstract

Le recyclage du plutonium ouvre des perspectives prometteuses compatibles avec un développement énergétique durable, et il peut de plus contribuer à la non-prolifération. Avant recyclage, le plutonium de la filière des réacteurs à eau légère se prête mal à la fabrication d'engins explosifs nucléaires ; après, quasiment plus. Les organismes de contrôles des matières nucléaires devraient identifier et adopter plusieurs catégories de plutonium tenant compte des différentes compositions isotopiques, afin de mieux refléter les vrais risques et mieux cibler leurs inspections. L'auteur propose l'adoption de trois catégories de plutonium.

Plutonium recycling offers benefits in an energy perspective of sustainable development, and, moreover it contributes to non-proliferation. Prior to recycling, reactor-grade plutonium from light-water reactors does not lend itself easily to the assembly of explosive nuclear devices; thereafter, practically not at all. Control systems for material security and non-proliferation should identify and adopt several categories of plutonium covering various isotopic mixtures associated with different fuel types, in order to better reflect the risks and to better focus their controls. The author proposes the adoption of three categories of plutonium.

Reçu le : 2002-04-01
Accepté le : 2002-05-23
Publié le : 2002-07-12

DOI : 10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6

Keywords: proliferation, security, plutonium, recycling, MOX, explosive device, nuclear reactor
Mots-clés : prolifération, sécurité, plutonium, recyclage, MOX, engin explosif, réacteur nucléaire

Affiliations des auteurs :

Bruno Pellaud ¹

¹ Nuclear Consultant, Chemin de la Bourgeoisie 3, CH-1977 Icogne, Switzerland

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Bruno Pellaud. Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling. Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 3 (2002) no. 7-8, pp. 1067-1079. doi : 10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6. https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/physique/articles/10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6/

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