Thorium-232 as nuclear fuel

Explain the use of Thorium-232 as fuel, to include a discussion of its advantages and disadvantages.

THorium-232

• -the only primordial nuclide of thorium
• -naturally occurring isotope of thorium
• -unstable and radioactive

Untitled Slide

As a Nuclear Fuel

Thorium based nuclear power is nuclear reactor based, fueled by the nuclear fission of the isotope uranium-233 produced from a fertile thorium

Advantages

• creates cleaner, safer nuclear power
• a quality low-carbon bridge to sustainable energy sources which can solve some of our major negative impacts on the environment
• less nuclear waste, eliminating the scale for the need of long term storage
• no expensive enrichment fuel is needed

Disadvantages

• breeding a thermal neutron is slow and requires a lot of reprocessing
• expensive testing is needed and there is no clear outcome
• We don't have a lot of operational experience with it
• Thorium fuel is harder to prepare

Untitled Slide

This relates to nuclear chemistry because thorium-232 can be used as a nuclear fuel. This means we can use this element to create nuclear weapons. Also thorium-232 is radioactive.

Works Cited

• “Thorium is a natural element that can power the world for millenniums to come! You can hold your entire life's energy supply in the palm of your hand with thorium!” Thorium Energy World, www.thoriumenergyworld.com/. Accessed 21 Sept. 2017.
• Martin, Richard. “Uranium Is So Last Century - Enter Thorium, the New Green Nuke.” Wired, Conde Nast, 21 Dec. 2009, www.wired.com/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/. Accessed 21 Sept. 2017.

works cited pt. 2

• “Radionuclide Basics: Thorium.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 8 May 2017, www.epa.gov/radiation/radionuclide-basics-thorium. Accessed 21 Sept. 2017.
• “Thorium.” Thorium, pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1050/thorium.htm. Accessed 21 Sept. 2017.