DOE Science Showcase - Thorium Research

 

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Thorium (²³²Th) is a slightly radioactive actinide metal found in small quantities in most rocks and soils throughout the world.  Research into the use of thorium as a nuclear fuel has been ongoing for more than 50 years and has recently gained renewed interest because it has the potential to provide a clean, safe, cheap, and plentiful nuclear power.  It is about three to four times more abundant in nature than uranium.  Advantages of a thorium nuclear fuel include less waste generation and increased safety in mining and power production.  DOE researchers are assessing thorium-based fuel design options and performance, potential benefits and challenges, and safeguard requirements.  Visit the links and resources below for DOE’s thorium research results and related information.

Related Research Information in DOE Databases

• DOE PAGES^Beta – journal articles and accepted manuscripts related to the thorium research resulting from DOE funding.
• SciTech Connect – thorium research results from DOE science, technology, and engineering programs.
• In the OSTI Collections – Energy from Thorium, Dr. William Watson

For additional information, see the OSTI Catalogue of Collections.

Additional Resources

• Department of Energy Office of Science
• DOE Office of Nuclear Energy
• Thorium, Wikipedia
• Thorium, World Nuclear Association
• Thorium fuel cycle – Potential benefits and challenges, International Atomic Energy Agency
• Thorium Fuel Cycle Pilot Experiences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, SciTech Connect
• Alvin Weinberg’s liquid fuel reactors, Atomic Insights
• The Molten Salt Reactor Experiment's 50^th Anniversary
• Advanced Reactor Concepts Technical Review Panel Report, DOE Office of Nuclear Energy
• Safety Issues of Thorium Utilization in Commercial LWRs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, SciTech Connect (See related image shown above of a SCALE/TRITON representation of thorium-based fuel compositions in a pressurized water reactor fuel assembly model.)
• Chemistry Consortium Uses Titan to Understand Actinides, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Thorium: Crustal abundance, joint production, and economic availability, Idaho National Laboratory, SciTech Connect
• Trying to Unleash the Power of Thorium, Chemical & Engineering News
• European Council for Nuclear Research, Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire (CERN)
• Energyfromthhorium.com

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