U.S. Nuclear Fuel Cycle Back-End Domestic Safeguards

Diagram of the salt sampling approach. MPACT Salt Sampler Approach

The Materials Protection Accounting and Control Technologies (MPACT) program supports back-end domestic safeguards activities through direct-funded activities at U.S. National Laboratories, the GAIN program, the NEUP program, and the SBIR/STTR program.

Dip sample with a ruler measuring a few inches. MPACT Salt Sampling – Dip Sampler

The MPACT program follows a DEVELOP – DEMONSTRATE – DEPLOY approach and has ongoing back-end domestic safeguards activities ranging from fundamental R&D (TRL 1-3) through installation and operation at nuclear facilities (TRL 9). MPACT publishes research through publicly available reports and conferences (INMM, ANS, ESARDA). MPACT protects proprietary information with industry partners and publishes non-proprietary aspects of industry engagement for general MC&A use.

Vacuum assist sample MPACT Salt Sampling – Vacuum Assist Sampler

MPACT products include Safeguards and Security By Design (SSBD) concepts for nuclear fuel cycle facilities, Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) nuclear and process monitoring instrumentation, and safeguards system performance models. The products are made available to U.S. individuals, universities, and commercial entities at no cost.

Current and recent MPACT back-end domestic safeguards activities include:

Diagram of an electrorefiner MPACT-Developed Sampling line in Electrorefiner

Direct-Funded U.S. National Laboratory Activities:

Image of a salt sample, yellow tint showing scientific instrumentation. MPACT Salt Sampling – Core Sampler 2
Image of a salt sample, yellow tint showing scientific instrumentation. MPACT Salt Sampling – Core Sampler 2
Image of a salt sample, yellow tint showing scientific instrumentation and measuring rule. MPACT Salt Sampling – Core Sampler 2
Image of a salt sample, yellow tint showing scientific instrumentation and a measure. MPACT Salt Sampling – Core Sampler 2