Inert matrix and thoria fuels for plutonium elimination

In our previous studies we analysed the plutonium burning performance of va rious kinds of fuel, based on mixing plutonium oxide with thorium oxide (TO X), or with inert matrix (IMF), or with inert matrix plus a limited additio n (doping) of thorium oxide (TD-IMF). The present paper includes the neutro nic analysis of a metal-based fuel variant and of fissile material recyclin g in TOX fuels. If the recycled fuel is topped with weapons grade plutonium (WG-Pu) as fissile material, it is possible to sustain indefinitely a clos ed cycle. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.