Fertile Isotope

A fertile isotope is an isotope which can produce a fissile Isotope at the conclusion of a nuclear reaction, generally a neutron capture.

Principal fertile elements

The fertile elements that one usually finds in a Nuclear reactor are:
  • the Thorium -232 which captures a neutron transforms into Thorium -233, which is transformed into Uranium -233 by two disintegration Bêta -: {} ^ {232} _ {90} Th + {} ^1_0 N \ rarr {} ^ {233} _ {90} Th \ rarr {} ^ {233} _ {92} U+2 \; e^- + 2 \; \ naked bar {\} _e
  • the Uranium -234 which captures a neutron transforms into Uranium -235 (“captures neutron”): {} ^ {234} _ {92} U + {} ^1_0 N \ rarr {} ^ {235} _ {92} U
  • the Uranium -238 which captures a neutron transforms into Uranium -239, which is transformed into Plutonium -239 by two disintegration Bêta -: {} ^ {238} _ {92} U + {} ^1_0 N \ rarr {} ^ {239} _ {92} U \ rarr {} ^ {239} _ {94} Pu +2 \; e^- + 2 \; \ naked bar {\} _e
  • the Plutonium -238 which captures a neutron transforms into Plutonium -239: {} ^ {238} _ {94} Pu + {} ^1_0 N \ rarr {} ^ {239} _ {94} Pu
  • the Plutonium -240 which captures a neutron transforms into Plutonium -241: {} ^ {240} _ {94} Pu + {} ^1_0 N \ rarr {} ^ {241} _ {94} Pu

Mechanism

In the case of uranium 238, the Transmutation leading to plutonium 239 is rather complex:

First of all, the core captures a neutron, giving uranium 239:

{} ^ {238} _ {92} U + {} ^1_0 N \ rarr {} ^ {239} _ {92} U.

That Ci is a transmitter beta, giving Neptunium 239:

{} ^ {239} _ {92} U \ rarr {} ^ {239} _ {93} Np+ \; e^- + \; \ naked bar {\} _e.

Who is him even a transmitter beta, giving by disintegration the Plutonium 239:

{} ^ {239} _ {93} Np \ rarr {} ^ {239} _ {94} Pu+ \; e^- + \; \ naked bar {\} _e.

Application

Two element fertile are present in nature: thorium 232 and uranium 238. Thorium 232 was the object only experimental achievements, the main obstacle is the low number of neutrons emitted during the fission of uranium 233.

Uranium 238 was the subject of a great number of achievements. It is the only access road to plutonium 239.

See too

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