University of Missouri Research Reactor Center
Encyclopedia
The University of Missouri Research Reactor Center (MURR) is home to a tank-type nuclear research reactor
that serves the University of Missouri's
Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute (NSEI). The MURR is currently the highest power university research reactor in the U.S. at 10 megawatt thermal output. The fuel is highly enriched uranium
.
proposes a research reactor, understanding that the many fields of research to benefit from nuclear science “are a part of the University of Missouri's educational responsibilities to our youth and to all our citizens.”
The MURR began operation October 13, 1966 about one mile (1.6 km) southwest of the university's main campus and the city's main business district. The supplier of construction services was General Electric
. In 1970 MURR scientist Dr. George Leddicotte gives the first courtroom testimony on murder trial evidence using neutron activation analysis
. Four years later MURR begins operating at 10 MW, making it the highest powered U.S. university reactor. Ir-192
is first produced at MURR for fighting breast cancer in 1976. The first small angle neutron scattering
(SANS) spectrometer in the U.S. is installed in 1980. In 1986 the first experiments are performed that lead to developing Quadramet and TheraSphere
which were later approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for helping fight against bone and liver cancer respectively.
Since 2000 systematic upgrades, renovation and renewal to MURR facilities and instrumentation in preparation for the next 20 years of licensed operation have taken place. In 2002 a 6000 sq ft (557.4 m²) building addition opened the way for expansion into cGMP scaleup of isotopes. Groundbreaking began in 2006 on a 25000 sq ft (2,322.6 m²) addition to house laboratories, classrooms and offices to advance interdisciplinary research, education and treatment of patients. Currently MURR supports research of approximately 400 faculty and 150 graduate students representing more than 180 departments from more than 100 international universities and around 40 federal and industrial labs every year. A cyclotron
that will supply mid-Missouri with isotopes for PET imaging and support additional research, development and clinical trials has been installed.
The MURR is currently in the process of relicensing for 20 additional years, a process estimated to take 2-3 years. During this time the facility operates as normal.
, neutron scattering
and neutron interferometry, neutron transmutation doping of semiconductor materials, use of radioisotopes for imaging and treatment of cancer, epidemiology, and archaeology along with many others.
(NSF) since 1988. The neutron activation
capabilities are used to characterize over 30 different trace elements in various archaeological and geological materials. The data are employed by archaeologists for provenance studies to study trade and exchange of artifacts and by environmental scientists and geologists to investigate various natural processes.
program at MURR has a long and productive history. On the one hand, many prominent scientists have graduated from this program and benefited from the in depth, hands on experience afforded by MURR's unique combination of high neutron flux and proximity to a flagship campus (the University of Missouri
). On the other hand, cutting edge research continues on the four active neutron scattering instruments of MURR's beamport floor: Triax (a triple-axis spectrometer), NR/GANS (a neutron reflectometer with spin-polarized capability), 2X-C (a multi-detector diffractometer
), and PSD (a high-resolution diffractometer
with position sensitive detectors). Furthermore, the landmark neutron interferometry experiments performed here have played an important role in opening the field of experimental quantum mechanics
.
Research reactor
Research reactors are nuclear reactors that serve primarily as a neutron source. They are also called non-power reactors, in contrast to power reactors that are used for electricity production, heat generation, or maritime propulsion.-Purpose:...
that serves the University of Missouri's
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
Nuclear Science and Engineering Institute (NSEI). The MURR is currently the highest power university research reactor in the U.S. at 10 megawatt thermal output. The fuel is highly enriched uranium
Enriched uranium
Enriched uranium is a kind of uranium in which the percent composition of uranium-235 has been increased through the process of isotope separation. Natural uranium is 99.284% 238U isotope, with 235U only constituting about 0.711% of its weight...
.
History and overview
In 1959 University President Elmer EllisElmer Ellis
Elmer Ellis was an American educator and fourteenth president of the University of Missouri and first president of the University of Missouri System. He was instrumental in the expansion of the university to include the University of Missouri–Kansas City and University of Missouri–St. Louis...
proposes a research reactor, understanding that the many fields of research to benefit from nuclear science “are a part of the University of Missouri's educational responsibilities to our youth and to all our citizens.”
The MURR began operation October 13, 1966 about one mile (1.6 km) southwest of the university's main campus and the city's main business district. The supplier of construction services was General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
. In 1970 MURR scientist Dr. George Leddicotte gives the first courtroom testimony on murder trial evidence using neutron activation analysis
Neutron activation analysis
In chemistry, neutron activation analysis is a nuclear process used for determining the concentrations of elements in a vast amount of materials. NAA allows discrete sampling of elements as it disregards the chemical form of a sample, and focuses solely on its nucleus. The method is based on...
. Four years later MURR begins operating at 10 MW, making it the highest powered U.S. university reactor. Ir-192
Iridium
Iridium is the chemical element with atomic number 77, and is represented by the symbol Ir. A very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum family, iridium is the second-densest element and is the most corrosion-resistant metal, even at temperatures as high as 2000 °C...
is first produced at MURR for fighting breast cancer in 1976. The first small angle neutron scattering
Small angle neutron scattering
Small angle neutron scattering is a laboratory technique, similar to the often complementary techniques of small angle X-ray scattering and light scattering, used for investigations of structure of various substances, with spatial sensitivity of about 1 - 1000 nm...
(SANS) spectrometer in the U.S. is installed in 1980. In 1986 the first experiments are performed that lead to developing Quadramet and TheraSphere
TheraSphere
TheraSphere is a hepatocellular carcinoma treatment therapy that consists of millions of microscopic, radioactive glass microspheres being infused into the arteries that feed liver tumors. These microspheres then embolize, lodging themselves in the liver's capillaries and bathing the malignancy...
which were later approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for helping fight against bone and liver cancer respectively.
Since 2000 systematic upgrades, renovation and renewal to MURR facilities and instrumentation in preparation for the next 20 years of licensed operation have taken place. In 2002 a 6000 sq ft (557.4 m²) building addition opened the way for expansion into cGMP scaleup of isotopes. Groundbreaking began in 2006 on a 25000 sq ft (2,322.6 m²) addition to house laboratories, classrooms and offices to advance interdisciplinary research, education and treatment of patients. Currently MURR supports research of approximately 400 faculty and 150 graduate students representing more than 180 departments from more than 100 international universities and around 40 federal and industrial labs every year. A cyclotron
Cyclotron
In technology, a cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator. In physics, the cyclotron frequency or gyrofrequency is the frequency of a charged particle moving perpendicularly to the direction of a uniform magnetic field, i.e. a magnetic field of constant magnitude and direction...
that will supply mid-Missouri with isotopes for PET imaging and support additional research, development and clinical trials has been installed.
Licensing
Some important reactor events are summarized here.| Year | Change |
|---|---|
| 1966 | Commenced operation |
| 1974 | 100% power upgrade |
| 1977 | More than 50% increase in operating hours, allowing reactor to maintain over 150 hours per week of operation |
| 2001 | Original Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975... license expired |
| 2026 | New 20-year license to expire, at which point either decommissioning or additional license extension would occur |
The MURR is currently in the process of relicensing for 20 additional years, a process estimated to take 2-3 years. During this time the facility operates as normal.
Research
The MURR has contributed to research in boron neutron capture therapyBoron Neutron Capture Therapy
Boron neutron capture therapy is an experimental form of radiotherapy that uses a neutron beam that interacts with boron injected into a patient...
, neutron scattering
Neutron scattering
Neutron scattering,the scattering of free neutrons by matter,is a physical processand an experimental technique using this processfor the investigation of materials.Neutron scattering as a physical process is of primordial importance...
and neutron interferometry, neutron transmutation doping of semiconductor materials, use of radioisotopes for imaging and treatment of cancer, epidemiology, and archaeology along with many others.
Archaeometry lab
This program has been funded by National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
(NSF) since 1988. The neutron activation
Neutron activation
Neutron activation is the process in which neutron radiation induces radioactivity in materials, and occurs when atomic nuclei capture free neutrons, becoming heavier and entering excited states. The excited nucleus often decays immediately by emitting particles such as neutrons, protons, or alpha...
capabilities are used to characterize over 30 different trace elements in various archaeological and geological materials. The data are employed by archaeologists for provenance studies to study trade and exchange of artifacts and by environmental scientists and geologists to investigate various natural processes.
Neutron scattering
The neutron scatteringNeutron scattering
Neutron scattering,the scattering of free neutrons by matter,is a physical processand an experimental technique using this processfor the investigation of materials.Neutron scattering as a physical process is of primordial importance...
program at MURR has a long and productive history. On the one hand, many prominent scientists have graduated from this program and benefited from the in depth, hands on experience afforded by MURR's unique combination of high neutron flux and proximity to a flagship campus (the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
). On the other hand, cutting edge research continues on the four active neutron scattering instruments of MURR's beamport floor: Triax (a triple-axis spectrometer), NR/GANS (a neutron reflectometer with spin-polarized capability), 2X-C (a multi-detector diffractometer
Diffractometer
A diffractometer is a measuring instrument for analyzing the structure of a material from the scattering pattern produced when a beam of radiation or particles interacts with it....
), and PSD (a high-resolution diffractometer
Diffractometer
A diffractometer is a measuring instrument for analyzing the structure of a material from the scattering pattern produced when a beam of radiation or particles interacts with it....
with position sensitive detectors). Furthermore, the landmark neutron interferometry experiments performed here have played an important role in opening the field of experimental quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
.