A solution has been found for the problem of radioactive waste in nuclear power plants.
Although nuclear power plants provide uninterrupted and long-term energy, the resulting radioactive waste is a significant problem. However, Transmutex has developed a revolutionary approach that reduces radioactivity.
While the operational safety of nuclear fission power plants often receives more attention, the biggest issues actually lie in the storage of spent fuel. Nuclear fission fuel remains radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years after its energy has been used. However, this problem might not be unsolvable. The Swiss-based nuclear fission company Transmutex has developed an approach that reduces this long-term radioactivity by 80%.
The transition to renewable energy will not happen overnight, and nuclear fission technology is seen as the cleanest and safest option during this transition. Last year at COP28, 20 countries decided to triple their nuclear energy capacities over the next 25 years, signaling a renewed interest in nuclear power. Despite this decision, plans for the long-term storage of spent fuel remained unclear.
Solution to the Nuclear Waste Problem
Transmutex’s solution lies in its name. The company aims to reduce radioactivity by transmuting elements, changing them into different isotopes or entirely different elements. This process is akin to alchemists trying to turn metals into gold. The key difference is that while the alchemists failed, Carlo Rubbia, the former director-general of CERN’s physics laboratory, has succeeded in this endeavor.
Researchers are proposing to use a particle accelerator to convert a light radioactive element like thorium into an isotope of uranium. The accelerator would be connected to a nuclear fission facility where the newly produced uranium could be immediately processed. However, unlike the uranium equivalent used in current nuclear power plants, this uranium does not produce plutonium or other highly radioactive waste. It’s worth noting that this technology has been examined by Nagra, Switzerland’s national agency for managing nuclear waste, for several months, and it has been concluded that the radioactivity is significantly reduced.
According to the Swiss national organization, Transmutex’s technology could help reduce the volume of generated nuclear waste by 80% and decrease the radioactive lifespan to less than 500 years. Furthermore, this technology can be applied to 99% of existing nuclear waste.
Challenges to Overcome
While this method significantly reduces radioactivity, it involves the use of a particle accelerator, which, as evident, adds the expense of installing one alongside each plant.
Even though 20 countries have decided to triple their nuclear energy capacities, countries like Germany and Switzerland are not keen on new facilities due to public opposition to nuclear technology. Switzerland, for instance, is considering phasing out its existing four nuclear power plants. If Transmutex can persuade the government, its technology could salvage these plants. The assessment conducted by Nagra is also crucial. It’s reported that a nuclear facility using Transmutex’s method could be shut down in just two milliseconds.
Sources
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/nuclear-waste-reduction-tech
