A technology developed for solar energy has been adapted to selectively remove one of the most-difficult-to-remove elements in nuclear waste pools, making the storage of nuclear waste safer and non-toxic.
The solution, it turns out, solves a 50-year-old problem.
“In order to solve the nuclear waste problem, you have to solve the americium problem,” said Tom Meyer, Arey Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at UNC's College of Arts and Sciences, who led the study.
The americium problem that Meyer is referring to is the development of a formal process wherein the radioactive element can be removed from nuclear waste. It’s a challenge decades old, and while several groups initially succeeded, they were all met with subsequent problems a little later on, rendering each solution unfeasible.
The technology that Meyer and his team developed is similar to one used at the UNC Energy Frontier Research Center of Solar Fuels which, in layman’s terms, tears electrons from water molecules. In this instance, it was specially adapted to tear electrons from americium (three total which, it turns out, requires twice as much energy input as splitting water). When these electrons are removed, the americium’s behavior becomes similar to that of nuclear waste’s other radioactive elements – plutonium and uranium – which is easy enough to remove with existing technology.
Understanding the process at a bit more of a granular level, nuclear fuel is first used as small, solid pellets loaded into long, thin rods. When reprocessing them, the used fuel is first dissolved in acid and the plutonium and uranium separate. During this process, americium will either be separated with plutonium and uranium, or it gets removed in a second step.
Meyers and his team worked closed with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) on this project, as they provided research support and technical guidance on working with nuclear materials. The team is looking to extend their research partnership in hopes of scaling up the solution.
“With INL working with us, we have a strong foundation for scaling up this technology,” said Chris Dares who worked with Meyer on the project. “With a scaled up solution, not only will we no longer have to think about the dangers of storing radioactive waste long-term, but we will have a viable solution to close the nuclear fuel cycle and contribute to solving the world's energy needs. That's exciting.”
Via University of North Carolina
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