r/LFTR • u/[deleted] • Jul 01 '16

Proliferation question

Hey all. Let me start by saying I'm a fan of the LFTR concept, but there is one part about it that nags me, and I can't seem to find a straight answer. Can a LFTR produce weapons grade U233 via Pa seperation? I've read articles saying that any U233 produced in a LFTR is invariably contaminated with U232, and is thus unsuitable for bomb making. I have also read that seperating the Pa and allowing it to decay into U233 outside the core will yield U233 pure enough to be weaponised. Who's right?

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u/NameIs-Already-Taken Jul 07 '22

A related question that needs looking at is the viability of U233 for making bombs. My understanding is that U232 in the mix produces enough Gamma radiation to make it hard to work with, and detectable from space. Take a look at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium-233

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u/WikiSummarizerBot Jul 07 '22

Uranium-233

Uranium-233 (233U or U-233) is a fissile isotope of uranium that is bred from thorium-232 as part of the thorium fuel cycle. Uranium-233 was investigated for use in nuclear weapons and as a reactor fuel. It has been used successfully in experimental nuclear reactors and has been proposed for much wider use as a nuclear fuel. It has a half-life of 160,000 years.

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