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INL reports findings on unusual quantum behavior of plutonium
Scientists at Idaho National Laboratory have discovered that plutonium hexaboride (PuB6) displays a type of unusual quantum property called a topological Kondo insulating state. Materials with this property are neither typical electricity conductors nor regular insulators. Rather, they have exterior surfaces that strongly conduct electricity and interiors that block electricity.
Okan H. Zabunoglu, Bernard I. Spinrad
Nuclear Technology | Volume 93 | Number 3 | March 1991 | Pages 376-381
Technical Paper | Enrichment and Reprocessing System | doi.org/10.13182/NT91-A34531
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A flow sheet for simplified reprocessing of long cooled light water reactor (LWR) fuel is presented. The standard Purex process is modified so that after the first solvent extraction cascade (co-decontamination), plutonium is washed out of the organic phase without reduction. This step also washes out enough uranium that the U-Pu product can be directly used as LWR fuel. A finish partitioning step, with plutonium reduction, decontaminates the remaining uranium product. Neither the U-Pu product nor the uranium product requires further purification, process yields are excellent, and plant equipment can be simplified.