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Nuclear Waste Management
Nuclear Waste Management
Nuclear Waste Management
Recently nuclear power has entered many discussions as world energy needs rise and oil
reserves diminish.
Most opponents of nuclear power point to two main arguments: meltdowns and nuclear
waste.
Nuclear waste is any form of byproduct or end product that releases radioactivity.
How to safely dispose of nuclear waste is pivotal for the continued operation of nuclear
power plants, safety of people living around dump sites, and prevention of proliferation of nuclear
materials to non-nuclear states.
Most nuclear waste comes from the byproducts of the nuclear fuel cycle. The cycle typically is split
into three sections: front end, service period, and back end. There can be intermediate stages that
include the reprocessing of nuclear waste elements.
Low level waste is any waste that could be from a high activity area.
90% volume of waste
It does not necessarily carry any radioactivity.
Split into four catagories: A, B, C, and GTCC.
High level waste has a large amount of radioactive activity and is thermally hot.
3% volume of waste
95% of radioactivity
Current levels of HLW are increasing about 12,000 metric tons per year.
Most HLW consists of Pu-238, 239, 240, 241, 242, Np-237, U-236
Transuranic waste consists of all waste that has radionuclides above uranium.
TRUWs typically have longer half-lives than other forms of waste.
Typically a byproduct of weapons manufacturing.
Only recognized in the United States.
• Nuclear waste
developed during the
back end of the fuel
cycle is the most
dangerous and includes
most of the HLW
produced.
• Most back end waste
emits both gamma and
beta particles.
• Also uranium-234,
neptunium-237,
plutonium-238 and
americium-241are found
in back end waste.
There
are several
options
available for the
disposal of LLW
due to its lack
of radioactivity.
Waste
Isolation Pilot
Plant
On-site
disposal
Filtration
IonExcha
nge
Evaporati
on
Incinerati
on
Compacti
on
Solidificat
ion
Most common utilized option are reactor pools and dry cask storage.
Other Options for waste management include:
–Transmutation
–Reuse
Treatment
–Waste is first mixed with sugar and then passed through a heated tube to de-nitrite the material.
–This material is then fed into a furnace and mixed with glass.
–The molten glass mixture is poured into steel cylinders and welded shut.
Conclusions