ABSTRACT
Mixed oxide fuel (MOX) is nuclear reactor fuel fabricated from plutonium. The first tests of MOX were conducted in Belgium in 1963. MOX was viewed, instead, as a temporary measure to bridge the period between the use of available plutonium stocks and the time when fast breeder reactors became operational. The use of plutonium in civilian reactors is not widespread because plutonium creates no economic benefits and its use is accompanied by a large proliferation risk. MOX use requires new production facilities and increased safeguards in existing facilities because of the sensitive nature of plutonium. Planning and cost estimates concerning MOX fabrication are generally based on the experience of civilian MOX fabricators who have used reprocessed plutonium from spent reactor fuel. The first step in creating MOX from weapon-grade plutonium is to convert the plutonium into plutonium dioxide.
