“De-clawing” Plutonium

The method denatures the plutonium (created in large nuclear reactors) by adding Americium (Am 241), a form of the basic synthetic element found in commercial smoke detectors and industrial gauges. Once denatured, the plutonium is unsuitable for use in armaments.

Currently, five major countries produce large nuclear reactors: the United States, Russia, Germany, France, and Japan. It is suggested that if these countries all agreed to add the denaturing additive into all plutonium, it would prevent nuclear fuel being used for weapons.

“When you purchase a nuclear reactor from one of the five countries, it also provides the nuclear fuel for the reactor,” explains Professor Yigal Ronen, of BGU’s Department of Nuclear Engineering. “Thus, if the five agree to insert the additive into fuel for countries now developing nuclear power—such as Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen—they will have to use it for peaceful purposes rather than warfare.”

“Countries that purchase nuclear reactors usually give the spent fuel back to the producer,” explains Ronen. “They wouldn’t be able to get new plutonium for weapons if it is denatured, but countries that make nuclear fuel could decide not to denature it for themselves.” For more information: yronen@bgu.ac.il

Excerpts from an article by www.israel21c.org