Depleted Uranium: The Process and Its Distinction from Spent Reactor Fuel

Depleted uranium (DU) is a key material with diverse applications, primarily derived from the process of enriching natural uranium. This article provides a comprehensive overview of how DU is made, its composition, and how it is not produced from spent reactor fuel. Additionally, it highlights the differences between DU and reprocessed uranium.

The Process of Making Depleted Uranium

1. Natural Uranium

Uranium found naturally consists predominantly of 238U (about 99.3%) with a small amount of 235U (about 0.7%). This natural uranium is not suitable for use as fuel in nuclear reactors or weapons due to its low concentration of 235U.

The Enrichment Process

2. Enrichment

To produce fuel for nuclear reactors or weapons, uranium must be enriched to increase the concentration of 235U. This is achieved through various methods, such as gas diffusion or gas centrifugation. During this process, the lighter 235U isotopes are separated from the heavier 238U isotopes.

Depleted Uranium

3. Depleted Uranium

The uranium remaining after the enrichment process, which is predominantly 238U, is known as depleted uranium. It has a much lower concentration of 235U than natural uranium, typically below 0.3%. This material is often used in applications such as armor-piercing ammunition and radiation shielding.

Depleted Uranium vs. Spent Reactor Fuel

4. Not From Spent Fuel

Despite common misconceptions, depleted uranium is not made from spent reactor fuel. Spent nuclear fuel contains a mix of isotopes, including a significant amount of 238U, but also fission products and transuranic elements created during the nuclear reaction. While some components of spent fuel can be reprocessed to recover usable uranium and plutonium, this process is distinct and separate from the enrichment process that creates depleted uranium.

Reprocessed Uranium and Its Uses

5. Reprocessed Uranium

Reprocessed uranium, on the other hand, is made from spent reactor fuel and has a different composition with various isotopes. This reprocessed uranium can be used as fuel in nuclear reactors and has similar potential applications as depleted uranium. However, the utilization of reprocessed uranium varies significantly between countries. For instance, the USA does not have a reprocessing industry, so the use of reprocessed uranium for anything is not considered. In contrast, countries like France have extensive reprocessing capabilities and reuse the reprocessed uranium as reactor fuel.

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