Overview
![](/assets/images/picto-drapeau-france-3a76576a5d60a512053b4612ab58dae5.png)
ABSTRACT
How are we to eliminate, by transmutation, the most toxic long-lived radionuclides contained in the spent fuel which will be removed from nuclear reactors? This issue cannot be addressed independently from the energetic policies of the concerned countries which have opted for the long-term exploitation of fast neutron reactors (FNR). The choice of radionuclides to be transmuted is discussed in this article as well as the physical principles which govern their elimination. It follows from these considerations that attention needs to be paid firstly to plutonium and americium. Several relevant options are open regarding the FNRs but they show that the necessary period of time required in order to eliminate such elements is very long, i.e. several decades, and that significant means have to be implemented. Indeed, the transmutation process requires the recycling of the matter to be transmuted and thus fine chemical separations. Therefore, facilities allowing the closure of the "nuclear fuel cycle" have to be associated to the FNRs. Research programmes are available in order to make preparation for political decisions concerning the Separation-Transmutation strategy.
Read this article from a comprehensive knowledge base, updated and supplemented with articles reviewed by scientific committees.
Read the articleAUTHOR
-
Robert GUILLAUMONT: University Professor - Member of the French Academy of Sciences - Member of the Académie des technologies
INTRODUCTION
In the article "Radioactive waste management by geological disposal", we looked at how most countries that have to manage long-lived radioactive waste are preparing to deposit it in geological repositories, in order to isolate it from the biosphere and confine the radionuclides that will escape over the very long term (hundreds of thousands of years), so that their radiological impact merges with that of natural radioactivity. This type of management poses a variety of problems in terms of natural hazards or future human activity, and is not universally accepted. One way of guarding against hazards and increasing confidence in a repository's ability to fulfill its assigned role would be to reduce the harmfulness of HLW as much as possible. The strategy of separation-transmutation would make it possible to move in this direction, but for reasons explained in this article, it would mean continuing to use nuclear energy for a century, if not more, from the moment it is implemented. On the other hand, it would require a mutation of nuclear power, leading to the operation of fast-neutron reactors associated with plants for recycling the materials circulating in these reactors. This transformation would take several decades, both to overcome technological difficulties and to deal with economic issues.
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!
Already subscribed? Log in!
![](/assets/images/logo-eti-286623ed91fa802ce039246e516e5852.png)
The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference
This article is included in
Nuclear engineering
This offer includes:
Knowledge Base
Updated and enriched with articles validated by our scientific committees
Services
A set of exclusive tools to complement the resources
Practical Path
Operational and didactic, to guarantee the acquisition of transversal skills
Doc & Quiz
Interactive articles with quizzes, for constructive reading
Radioactive waste
Bibliography
Regulations
Légifrance website http://www.legifrance.fr
Law no. 91-1381 of December 30, 1991 on research into radioactive waste management.
Law no. 2006-739 of June 28, 2006 on the sustainable management of radioactive materials and waste.
Law no. 2006-686 of June 13, 2006 on nuclear transparency and safety.
Law no. 75-633 of July 15, 1975 and law no....
Organizations
French Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning (Meeddat) http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr
Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (Opecst) http://www.senat.fr/opecst/index.html
...Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!
Already subscribed? Log in!
![](/assets/images/logo-eti-286623ed91fa802ce039246e516e5852.png)
The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference