How is thorium extracted
Generally, two main methods are commercially applied to separate thorium from mineral monazite that is through either acid digestion or leaching process. In a typical acid digestion process, monazite is cracked using sulfuric acid at 230 °C for 4 h.
How much does 1 kg of thorium cost
The unit value of imports from India remained unchanged from 2018 at $72 per kilogram. Exports of unspecified thorium compounds were 3,200 kilograms in 2019; however, 33% of the exports were reported to have a unit value of less than $50 per kilogram and may have been misclassified.
Why isn’t thorium used more
Thorium doesn't work as well as U-Pu in a fast reactor.
While U-233 an excellent fuel in the slow-neutron regime, it is between U-235 and Pu-239 in the fast spectrum. So for reactors that require excellent neutron economy (such as breed-and-burn concepts), Thorium is not ideal.
Can I touch thorium
HAZARD SUMMARY
* Thorium Nitrate emits radioactive particles which can be breathed in or swallowed, or can penetrate the skin. * Thorium Nitrate can irritate the skin causing a rash or burning feeling on contact. * Exposure to Thorium Nitrate can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.
Is thorium cheaper than uranium
False. Although thorium is more abundant than uranium, the cost of uranium is a small fraction of the overall cost of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy economics are driven by the capital cost of the plant, and building a power plant with a thorium reactor is no cheaper than building a power plant with a uranium reactor.
Why is no one using thorium reactors
The reactor design is also simpler, arguably safer, and produces less radioactive waste. Ironically, it's the difficulty of making weapons that explains why thorium designs have yet to become commercially viable.
Can I eat thorium
After you eat or drink thorium, almost all of it leaves your body in the feces. The small amount of thorium left in your body may enter your bones from the blood and stay there for many years. The main way thorium will enter your body is by breathing dust contaminated with thorium. 1.4 HOW CAN THORIUM AFFECT MY HEALTH
Why hasn t thorium been used
Thorium doesn't work as well as U-Pu in a fast reactor.
While U-233 an excellent fuel in the slow-neutron regime, it is between U-235 and Pu-239 in the fast spectrum. So for reactors that require excellent neutron economy (such as breed-and-burn concepts), Thorium is not ideal.
Why can’t thorium be weaponized
Although some wonder if thorium can be used in nuclear weapons and are concerned about the possibility of a thorium bomb, thorium actually can't be weaponized because it doesn't produce enough recoverable plutonium, which is required for building nuclear weapons.
Is thorium safe to touch
WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
* Thorium Dioxide is a CARCINOGEN in humans. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen, so all contact should be reduced to the lowest possible level. * It should be recognized that Thorium Dioxide can be absorbed through your skin, thereby increasing your exposure.
Why don’t we use thorium
Irradiated Thorium is more dangerously radioactive in the short term. The Th-U cycle invariably produces some U-232, which decays to Tl-208, which has a 2.6 MeV gamma ray decay mode. Bi-212 also causes problems. These gamma rays are very hard to shield, requiring more expensive spent fuel handling and/or reprocessing.
Why don t people use thorium instead of uranium
There is, however, no relative advantage in using thorium instead of depleted uranium (DU) as a fertile fuel matrix in these reactor systems due to a higher fast-fission rate for U-238 and the fission contribution from residual U-235 in this material.
Why don’t we use thorium instead of uranium
Even though a conventional meltdown would be unlikely, thorium still produces harmful radiation that needs to be contained, and something could always go wrong.
Why thorium is a bad idea
Irradiated Thorium is more dangerously radioactive in the short term. The Th-U cycle invariably produces some U-232, which decays to Tl-208, which has a 2.6 MeV gamma ray decay mode. Bi-212 also causes problems. These gamma rays are very hard to shield, requiring more expensive spent fuel handling and/or reprocessing.
Is thorium worse than uranium
“Because of its abundance and its fissile material breeding capability, thorium could potentially offer a long-term solution to humanity's energy needs,” Agarwal said. Another advantage is that thorium-fuelled reactors could be much more environmentally friendly than their uranium counterparts.
Why isn’t thorium used
Thorium doesn't work as well as U-Pu in a fast reactor.
While U-233 an excellent fuel in the slow-neutron regime, it is between U-235 and Pu-239 in the fast spectrum. So for reactors that require excellent neutron economy (such as breed-and-burn concepts), Thorium is not ideal.
