Transmutation of minor actinides such as Np, Am, and Cm in spent nuclear fuel is of
international interest because of its potential for reducing the long-term health and safety
hazards caused by the radioactivity of the spent fuel. One important approach to
transmutation (currently being pursued by the DOE Fuel Cycle Research & Development
Advanced Fuels Campaign) involves incorporating the minor actinides into U-Pu-Zr alloys,
which can be used as fuel in fast reactors. U-Pu-Zr alloys are well suited for electrolytic …