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Title:
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Transmutation of nuclear waste: state-of-the-art: national and international research and strategy studies on partitioning and transmutation of actinides and fission products
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Author(s):
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Published by:
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Publication date:
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ECN
NUCLEAIR
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1997
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ECN report number:
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Document type:
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ECN-I--97-029
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Other
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Number of pages:
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Full text:
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52
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Download PDF
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Abstract:
Since 1991 the Netherlands Energy Research Foundation (ECN) in Petten,Netherlands, runs a programme on recycling and transmutation of actinides and
long-lived fission products that are present in the spent fuel from nuclear
power generation. This programme, which is known under the Dutch acronym RAS,
is concentrated on the following topics: reactor physics and scenario studies
for transmutation, non-proliferation, thorium cycle, irradiations in the High
Flux Reactor at Petten, chemical and material studies of fuels and targets,
radiological effects and risks. In the present paper a short description of
the achievements of the RAS programme is given. Next, the status of the
international research on recycling of actinides and fission products is
described. Strategies and (innovative) fuel cycle technology required for the
recycling of plutonium, minor actinides and fission products are discussed
and their possibilities and limits are identified. Also the potential of
future options with low actinide production (thorium cycles, accelerators) is
considered. Recommendations for future research in this field are given,
taking into account the results of a review by a national committee of
experts from government, science and industry. The future work should
concentrate on: advanced partitioning methods for trivalent actinides, for
which a break-through is required, transmutation of actinides using inert
matrices as support (non-fissionable materials), studies using 100% MOX-PWRs,
HWRs, HTRs and fast burners, innovative systems for future 'clean' energy
production using thorium cycle and/or accelerators. It is emphasized that the
radiological effects of all new concepts to be developed for recycling and
transmutation should be analysed adequately. 6 figs., 14 tabs., 97 refs.
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