Nuclear Waste Can Be Reduced by Recycling and Transmutation

Abstract

This article first reviews the problem of radioactive waste (RW) in particular the problem of long-lived high-level radioactive elements contained in spent nuclear fuels from nuclear reactors. In this respect, it discusses the various possible options for their management and analyses more particularly the option of reprocessing these spent fuels that allows the recycling of the nuclear materials recovered after this reprocessing operation (uranium and plutonium). The advantages of implementing this option are examined in terms of volume reduction and radiotoxicity reduction of the final waste destined for final disposal in deep geological formations. The issue of partitioning and transmutation (P&T) of long-lived radioactive minor actinides and a couple of fission products in order to reduce their long-term potential radiotoxicity is then addressed. The current state of research in this field is presented and the technical feasibility of such operations on these elements is discussed. We describe the current exploratory work which is carried out in France in order to assess various innovative technologies which could be developed for P&T and we discuss the technical feasibility and constraints of such options. Main outcomes of this presentations are the following:1.Reprocessing makes sense from the standpoint of recycling because it allows a much more efficient use of natural uranium to produce energy.2.Reprocessing is important to high level nuclear waste disposal since it greatly reduces their volume and puts them in a more stable configuration making it more difficult to release into the environment.3.Additional steps can be taken to make risk of disposal even lower by partitioning and transmutation of minor actinides and certain fission products. These are not fully developed and need additional infrastructure, i.e. fast neutron reactors.4.Regardless of all the above, a repository for high level nuclear waste is still needed whether for once through or reprocessed waste.