Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory, in collaboration with SHINE Technologies, are developing an advanced chemical process to recover valuable materials from nuclear fuel. spent nuclear fuel fuel, which still contains more than 95% of its potential energy.
As demand for clean electricity clean electricity in the United States, recycling used nuclear fuel is emerging as an energy strategy with high potential.
Centrifugal contactors for spent nuclear fuel recovery
The project incorporates liquid-liquid separation equipment known as centrifugal contactors, which use rotational force to divide liquid mixtures according to their density. Thanks to 3D-printed components, researchers can quickly adjust designs and evaluate prototypes under real chemical conditions with minimal generation of radioactive waste. This technology aims to facilitate the industrial scale-up of nuclear recycling.
Recycling nuclear waste poses significant technical and regulatory challenges. Fuel must be safely stored and cooled due to its intense radioactivity and heat generation. In addition, safeguards principles are applied from design to prevent unauthorized access and ensure traceability of the recycled material.
To simulate industrial conditions without the need for heavy shielding, Argonne’s equipment employs a Van de Graaff accelerator that generates minimal amounts of radiation. This makes it possible to evaluate how separation chemicals degrade under prolonged exposure, improving the reliability of the proposed processes.
The initiative takes into account the possible applications of the recovered materials: from the use of the new fuel in advanced reactors to the generation of radioisotopes useful for medical diagnostics and space propulsion. These opportunities can make recycling an economically viable alternative.
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Source and internal photo: Argonne National Laboratory
Main photo: shutterstock
