USE OF ISOTOPICALLY ENRICHED NITROGEN IN ACTINIDE FUEL IN NUCLEAR REACTORS

The present invention provides a nuclear fuel comprising an actinide nitride such as 233U, 234U, 235U, 236U, 238U, 232Th, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 242Pu, 244Pu, 239Np, 239Am, 240Am, 241Am, 242Am, 243Am, 244Am, 245Am, 240Cm, 241Cm, 242Cm, 243Cm, 244Cm, 245Cm, 246Cm, 247Cm, 248Cm, 249Cm, 259Cm, 245Bk, 246Bk, 247Bk, 248Bk, 249Bk, 250Bk, 248Cf, 249Cf, 250Cf, 251Cf, 252Cf, 253Cf, 254Cf, 255Cf, 249Es, 250Es, 251Es, 252Es, 253Es, 254Es, 255Es, 251Fm, 252Fm, 253Fm, 254Fm, 255Fm, 256Fm, 257Fm, 255Md, 256Md, 257Md, 258Md, 259Md, 260Md, 253No, 254No, 255No, 256No, 257No, 258No and 259No, and optionally fission products such as 97Tc, 98Tc and 99Tc, suitable for use in nuclear reactors, including those based substantially on thermal fission, such as light and heavy water reactors, gas-cooled nuclear reactors, liquid metal fast breeders or molten salt fast breeders. The fuel contains nitrogen which has been isotopically enriched to at least about 50% 15N, most preferably above 95%.