钍是一种潜在的核燃料。据国际原子能机构估计,目前已探明有开采价值的钍资源大致和铀相等。钍的充分利用可以大大丰富核能资源,增加核燃料储备。 钍铀核燃料循环的一个主要技术问题是钍在反应堆中受中子照射后,除生成有用的核燃料~(233)U外,还会产生~(232)U,一般化学方法不能使它与~(233)U分开。由于~(232)U的衰变子体放出能量 Thorium is a potential nuclear fuel. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the thorium resources that have been proven to have been exploited at present are roughly equal to uranium. The full utilization of thorium can greatly enrich nuclear energy resources and increase nuclear fuel reserves. Thorium uranium nuclear fuel cycle is a major technical problem thorium in the reactor by the neutron irradiation, in addition to generating useful nuclear fuel ~ (233) U, it will produce ~ (232) U, the general chemical method can not make it with ~ ( 233) U separately. As ~ (232) U decay progeny release energy