MOX
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Energy
| Stands for | Mixed oxide fuel |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
MOX stands for Mixed oxide fuel, an energy abbreviation.
Nuclear fuel made by blending plutonium oxide, recovered from reprocessed spent fuel or surplus weapons, with uranium oxide. MOX lets plutonium be burned in ordinary reactors rather than stored, and France has used it extensively.
Example: About 10% of France's nuclear electricity comes from reactors partly loaded with MOX.
Usage notes
France reprocesses spent fuel at La Hague and fabricates MOX at the Melox plant. A US plant to convert surplus weapons plutonium into MOX at the Savannah River Site was canceled in 2018 after large cost overruns. Critics argue reprocessing and MOX increase proliferation risks and costs.
Related abbreviations
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- LOCA – Loss-of-coolant accident
- LPG – Liquefied petroleum gas
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- MPGe – Miles per gallon equivalent
- MPPT – Maximum power point tracking
- MSR – Molten salt reactor
- NACS – North American Charging Standard
- NCA – Nickel cobalt aluminum (oxide)
- NiMH – Nickel-metal hydride