Ydinjätekierrätys

Ydinjätekierrätys, often referred to as nuclear fuel recycling or reprocessing, is a process used to recover reusable fissile materials from spent nuclear fuel. Spent nuclear fuel contains uranium, plutonium, and other radioactive elements. The primary goal of recycling is to extract the usable plutonium and uranium, which can then be reprocessed into new nuclear fuel for reactors. This process can potentially reduce the volume and long-term radiotoxicity of the high-level waste that requires permanent disposal.

The most common method for reprocessing spent fuel is the PUREX (Plutonium Uranium Reduction Extraction) process. This chemical separation technique dissolves spent fuel rods in nitric acid and then uses solvent extraction to separate the uranium and plutonium from the fission products and other actinides. The recovered uranium can be enriched and reused, while the plutonium can be mixed with uranium to create mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel.

Ydinjätekierrätys is practiced in several countries, including France, Russia, India, and Japan, though its adoption is not universal. Countries like the United States do not currently reprocess spent nuclear fuel, opting instead for direct disposal of spent fuel in geological repositories. The decision to recycle nuclear waste involves complex considerations related to economics, environmental impact, nuclear proliferation concerns, and waste management strategies. While recycling can reduce the volume of waste requiring disposal, the remaining waste is still highly radioactive and requires secure long-term storage.