plutonium reprocessing

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

A chemical process that separates reusable plutonium and uranium from spent nuclear fuel, allowing the plutonium to be recycled as mixed oxide (MOX) fuel; it reduces the volume of high-level nuclear waste but raises proliferation concerns as extracted plutonium could be used in weapons

History and origin

Plutonium named after Pluto, then classified as a planet, by Glenn Seaborg in 1942; reprocessing technology emerged during the Cold War nuclear arms race

Examples

• France reprocesses the majority of its spent nuclear fuel at the La Hague facility.
• Plutonium reprocessing remains controversial because it creates material that could potentially be diverted for weapons.

Synonyms: spent fuel reprocessing, nuclear fuel recycling, PUREX process