Enhancement of Transmutation of Minor Actinides by Hydride Target

A hydride target including minor actinides (MA) is able to enhance the transmutation rate in a fast breeding reactor (FBR) without degradation of core safety characters. Fast neutrons generated in the core region of the FBR are moderated in the MA-hydride target assemblies and then efficiently absorbed by MA. The MA-hydride target pin has been designed in the light of recent research of hydride materials. This chapter shows the feasibility of MA transmutation by an existing reactor, Monju.