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creating rhodium and palladium in nuclear reactors

BaleyBaley Posts: 22,660 ✭✭✭✭✭
was looking something up and found this tidbit:

Production in nuclear reactors

Main article: Synthesis of precious metals

Significant quantities of the three light platinum group metals—ruthenium, rhodium and palladium—are formed as fission products in nuclear reactors.[10] With escalating prices and increasing global demand, reactor-produced noble metals are emerging as an alternative source. Various reports are available on the possibility of recovering fission noble metals from spent nuclear fuel.[11][12][13]

10. R. J. Newman, F. J. Smith (1970). "Platinum Metals from Nuclear Fission – an evaluation of their possible use by the industry". Platinum Metals Review 14 (3): 88.
11. Zdenek Kolarik, Edouard V. Renard (2003). "Recovery of Value Fission Platinoids from Spent Nuclear Fuel; PART I: general considerations and basic chemistry". Platinum Metals Review 47 (2): 74.
12. Kolarik, Zdenek; Renard, Edouard V. (2005). "Potential Applications of Fission Platinoids in Industry". Platinum Metals Review 49 (2): 79. doi:10.1595/147106705X35263.
13. Zdenek Kolarik, Edouard V. Renard (2003). "Recovery of Value Fission Platinoids from Spent Nuclear Fuel; PART II: Separation process". Platinum Metals Review 47 (3): 123.


Interesting! Alchemy lives!

Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

Comments

  • derrybderryb Posts: 36,824 ✭✭✭✭✭
    My experience in 20 years of maintaining and certifying naval reactors has been that any metal product that spends time directly exposed to radiation becomes radioactive. This is the primary reason for cleanliness controls in reactor fluid/coolant systems - any suspended "trash" eventually becomes radioative waste and has to be disposed of as such at great expense.

    Did my fair share of reactor "refueling," the removal, disposal and replacement of spent fuel rods which are the most radioactive source found in a reactor. I would not want to be close to any item taken from a spent fuel rod. Exposure is minimized by using shielded containment and containers to handle and store the rods, never exposing workers directly to them.

    "Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Seems quite clear to me (as derryb indicates) that anything created in a nuclear reactor will be radioactive and likely deadly in any quantity. Cheers, RickO
  • tincuptincup Posts: 5,142 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Gold and silver are also created. Ag-110 that is created is not very well liked in the nuclear industry since it has high energy gammas and can contribute to radiation exposure to workers. Would definitely not want to be near a silver coin created with this isotope, though it might have some neat toning effects.....!

    BWRs also inject platinum and rhodium into the reactors intentionally, to help reduce corrosive conditions.
    ----- kj
  • DrBusterDrBuster Posts: 5,379 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If they can blend it with something to give me super powers.....
  • carew4mecarew4me Posts: 3,471 ✭✭✭✭
    I am sure PCGS will come up with a new label for it.

    Loves me some shiny!
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