A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

España, Alberto D. Mendoza; Bromley, Blair P.

doi:10.12943/cnr.2017.00021

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 91 publications

(138 reference statements)

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“…The identification of MSR as one of the potential systems to achieve the Generation-IV goal will promote the development of thorium fuel cycle . Until now, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China, etc., have carried out fundamental research and preliminary small-scale application tests related to the thorium fuel cycle, systematically proving the possibility of using thorium as nuclear fuel in reactors. – THTR-300 (Germany) and Fort St Vrain (USA) have achieved the production of 300 MWe power . India has been working on the thorium fuel cycle due to the large thorium deposit.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective Extraction of Uranium(VI) from Thorium(IV) Using New Unsymmetrical Acidic Phenanthroline Carboxamide Ligands

Wang,

Yang,

et al. 2023

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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In the thorium−uranium fuel cycle, 232 Th will produce fissional 233 U and radioactive 232 U simultaneously after irradiation. The selective separation of uranium from thorium-based spent fuel can enhance the utilization efficiency of nuclear fuel and promote the safety of nuclear energy utilization. In this work, a new type of unsymmetrical acidic phenanthroline carboxamide ligand represented as 9-(N,N-dialkylcarbamoyl)-1,10-phenanthroline-2-carboxylic acid (DEAPA and DOAPA) was synthesized for selective separation of U(VI) over Th(IV). The separation of small amounts of U(VI) from large amounts of Th(IV) could be achieved by using DOAPA to extract at high acidity (4 M HNO 3 ) and then using 1 M HNO 3 as the stripping agent. The complexation mechanism of these two ligands with U(VI) and Th(IV) was investigated through slope analysis, NMR spectrometric titration, UV−vis spectrophotometric titration, and single-crystal Xray diffraction methods. Results from slope analysis and NMR spectrometric titration showed that DOAPA formed a 1:1 complex with U(VI) and formed 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with Th(IV). The larger stability constants (log β) of 1:1 complexes of DEAPA/DOAPA with U(VI) than those with Th(IV) implied the stronger affinity of the ligands with U(VI), which was in good coincidence with the solvent extraction results. The crystal structures of the 1:1 complex of U(VI) and the two species of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of Th(IV) with DEAPA were successfully analyzed by X-ray diffraction. This work provided a new type of unsymmetrical acidic phenanthroline carboxamide extractant for the efficient separation of U(VI) from Th(IV). The systematic study of the extraction and complexation behavior would be helpful to explore the effect of functional groups as well as design extractants with excellent performance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective Extraction of Uranium(VI) from Thorium(IV) Using New Unsymmetrical Acidic Phenanthroline Carboxamide Ligands

Wang,

Yang,

et al. 2023

Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.

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Uranium Price Expectations and Stabilization Policy Formation in the Manhattan Project: An Institutional Economics Approach

España

2023

Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

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Governments, and uranium producers and buyers assess policy implications for uranium markets by understanding the price of uranium and the role of government policy over time. To understand the key elements in the formation of price and policy in uranium markets, this study uses the institutional economics method to investigate the institutional arrangements used for procuring uranium in the Manhattan Project (1942-1946). Throughout this period, the formation of price expectations were bounded by the opportunities to receive revenue from selling uranium ore as a by product and as a main product. In regards to policy formation, price expectations were guided by the need to secure ore for customers, to secure income stability for producers, and to maintain competitive conditions in establishing price stabilization as the main policy. Similar pricing rules and concerns with price stabilization were adopted throughout the uranium market history. These recurring similarities in customs, which are understood through the underlying competitive behavior, are expected to be adapted to contemporary trends, such as global climate change, the joint ownership of mines, and the creation of the Low Enriched Uranium Bank. The contemporary trends represent the new negotiating circumstances for uranium market participants. Therefore, elements in understanding the formation of pricing and price stabilization policy during the Manhattan Project may be adapted to frame future assessments of uranium markets as participants consider advanced nuclear reactors and various nuclear fuel cycles as an option in adapting to contemporary trends.

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An overview of thorium as a prospective natural resource for future energy

2023

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Thorium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that has been identified as a potential alternative fuel for nuclear energy production. Additionally, thorium-based nuclear reactors have inherent safety features that reduce the risk of nuclear accidents and proliferation. As a result, there has been growing interest in the development of thorium-based nuclear energy as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. This paper looks at the present status of thorium nuclear fuel technology, providing an overview of thorium as a prospective natural resource for future energy, the global availability of mineral supplies, and discusses the technical, economic, and environmental factors that may influence its implementation. Potential advantages and challenges critical to further development associated with thorium-based nuclear energy are highlighted as well, and an outlook on its future prospects is provided. Thorium offers advantageous physical and chemical properties over uranium, has a higher energy density, and produces less waste, in addition to its greater natural abundance, making it to be considered a “future nuclear fuel”. There are concerns about the cost and scalability of thorium-based nuclear energy, with uncertainty around the cost to develop, build, and operate thorium reactors, as it has not yet been demonstrated in large-scale commercial reactors—although almost all current reactor types have been built and run using thorium—as it is the case with Uranium-based nuclear technology—the dominant form of nuclear energy for over half a century, having received much more investment and attention than thorium-based technology. Thorium has the potential to contribute towards a more sustainable nuclear industry, including lower lifecycle emissions and more efficient resource utilization, but for this, an acceleration of efforts to date is needed to ensure that this becomes an important climate change stabilizing wedge by the mid-21st century.

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A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

Cited by 3 publications

References 91 publications

Selective Extraction of Uranium(VI) from Thorium(IV) Using New Unsymmetrical Acidic Phenanthroline Carboxamide Ligands

Selective Extraction of Uranium(VI) from Thorium(IV) Using New Unsymmetrical Acidic Phenanthroline Carboxamide Ligands

Uranium Price Expectations and Stabilization Policy Formation in the Manhattan Project: An Institutional Economics Approach

An overview of thorium as a prospective natural resource for future energy

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