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Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

Index

A

Abrogation of treaties, 106, 107-108, 374-375

Accelerator transmutation of waste (ATW), 2, 4, 5, 13, 14, 27, 28-29 , 49, 51-52, 56-57, 78, 80, 241-284

aqueous, 66-67, 71, 80, 81, 83, 85, 249, 251, 252-257, 272-273, 276-278 , 280-281

blanket assembly, 46, 57, 247, 248, 280

economics, 76, 85, 112, 282

feasibility, 5-6, 28, 75-76, 85

fluid fuel system, 28, 74, 83, 85, 270-271

heat removal, 29, 73, 85

molten salt processes, 3, 28, 44, 46, 47, 48, 394

nonaqueous, 67, 80, 81, 83, 251, 258-265, 278-279, 281, 388, 393

power production, 14, 18, 29, 265

regulation, 123, 124

and repository disposal, 83, 124, 395

research and development, 28, 29, 48, 75-76, 394, 452

safety issues, 28, 29, 73-74, 111, 265-273, 385, 387-388, 391, 392-395

separations for, 3-4, 30, 43, 44, 46-48, 262-263, 394

see also CURE (Clean Use of Reactor Energy) study;

Phoenix accelerator

Accidents, 74, 384

health effects, 109, 110, 142

transportation, 102, 109

ACTINEX process, 448

Actinide burning (fissioning), 12-13, 14, 26, 45.

See also Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR);

Transmutation technology

Actinides, 2, 12, 21, 22, 28, 39, 485

minor (MA), 32, 33, 72, 84, 404

repository risk, 1, 3, 25-26, 33

separation, 2, 13, 29, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45

transmutation, 3, 26, 85, 348

see also Transuranics (TRU)

Activation products, 21-22, 31, 39

Adsorptive separations, 173

Advanced light-water reactor (ALWR), 14, 27, 119, 228-231

Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR), 2, 4-5, 13, 14, 27-28, 55-56 , 70, 78, 80, 83, 84, 201-224, 400, 463-464

as breeder reactor, 14, 28, 70, 84

cooling system, 388, 398

demonstrations, 28, 217-218

economics, 7, 28, 75, 78, 85, 112, 115-116, 218-224, 436, 440-442, 443, 468

feasibility, 5, 28, 75, 85-85

health risks, 108-109, 110-111, 464, 466

integral fast reactor (IFR) program, 14, 27-28, 30, 49, 55, 84-85, 107, 108, 369-370, 375-376, 388-389, 398, 399, 452

licensing, 28, 466, 467

and new LWR construction, 70, 80, 81

Power Reactor, Innovative, Small Module (PRISM) program, 14, 55, 202

proliferation issues, 107, 108, 369, 374, 375-376, 377-378

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

and repository disposal, 100, 101, 341-344, 398, 400-401, 466-468

research and development, 28, 54, 75, 84-85, 126, 349

safety issues, 28, 73, 211-214, 215, 387, 388-389, 397-401

separations for, 3, 30, 43, 45-46, 389, 399-400

transportation issues, 375, 378

TRU transmutation, 2, 4-5, 14, 28, 61-66, 71, 82, 83, 84-85, 207-209

Airborne releases, see Atmospheric releases

ALARA (As Low as Reasonably Achievable) concept, 121, 485

Alkaline wastes, 16, 43

Alkanes, 42

Alkyl phosphates, 38

ALMR, see Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR)

Aluminum cladding, 89, 147

Aluminum salts, 38, 89, 95, 147

ALWR, see Advanced light-water reactor

Americium (Am), 25, 27, 28, 31, 40, 83

decay heat, 39-32

repository risk, 33, 34, 82, 100

separations, 3, 37, 41, 42, 45, 47

ANL, see Argonne National Laboratory

Aqueous separations, 13, 14, 27, 29, 30, 38, 40-43, 47, 107, 148-150

for ATW systems, 3-4, 46, 47-48

and decay heat, 3-4, 46

economics, 112, 117

REDOX process, 38, 147, 150-151

solvent extraction processes, 29, 38, 40, 47, 169-172, 179

Aqueous transport, see Groundwater dissolution and migration

Argentina, uranium enrichment, 357, 362, 363, 372

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

ALMR/IFR development, 14, 28, 49, 54, 452

LWR fuel reprocessing, 158-164

pyroprocessing separations, 29, 30, 41, 43, 46, 155-158, 417

Armed forces, 106

Atmospheric releases, 99, 385

carbon-14, 26

see also Gaseous releases

Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 19, 121, 122, 123

Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), 14, 55, 118, 413, 414, 466

Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) system, 175-176

ATW, see Accelerator transmutation of waste (ATW)

Automation, 107

B

Background radiation, 3, 26, 34, 111

Barnwell, South Carolina, reprocessing plant, 116, 165-166, 414, 428

Baseline, see Once-through fuel cycle

Batch refueling, 354, 373

Batch reprocessing, 40, 46, 126, 396

Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, 49, 450

Bechtel, 116

Belgium, 168

Bidentate extractants, 170-171

Bilateral agreements, 106, 360, 361, 363, 366, 372

Bismuth phosphate (BiPO4) process, 38, 150

Blanket system, 38, 46, 57, 247, 248, 280, 373-374

Blood-forming cells, 25

BNL, see Brookhaven National Laboratory

Bone cancer, 25

Boundary-layer heating, 74, 270-271

Brazil, uranium enrichment, 357, 362, 363, 372

Breeder reactors, 27, 39, 45, 60, 367, 415

and proliferation concerns, 361, 362, 374, 375-376

see also Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR)

Breeding ratios, 27, 28

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), 14, 46, 49, 57, 390, 404, 452

Bulk materials, 40, 44, 47, 107

Burial, see Surface storage and disposal

BUTEX process, 29

C

Cadmium salts, 43

Calcine, see Solidified defense waste

Canada, sales to India, 358, 361, 414

Cancer deaths, 3, 34, 102, 108, 109, 110

Cancrinites, 89

CANDU reactor, 358, 361, 362, 373

Capital costs, 77, 78, 113-114, 116, 417-426, 443-444

Capsules, see Encapsulation

Carbonates, 40, 176-177

Carbon dioxide (CO2), 26

Carbon-14, 22, 26, 84, 101

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

packaging and waste forms, 26, 31, 34, 84, 100

radiation doses, 26, 34

releases, 26, 34, 99, 100, 318, 338, 345

separations, 26, 100

Carter Administration policies, 18, 118, 362, 414

Catastrophes, see Accidents; Natural disasters

Caustic solutions, 40, 147

Certification, see Licensing and certification

Cesium (Cs), 24, 31, 33

decay heat, 11, 23, 24, 32, 39, 323, 326

in defense waste, 16, 87, 89, 95, 98

groundwater dissolution and migration, 72, 333

health risk, 23, 335

separation and extraction, 40, 42, 43

storage and disposal, 47, 326, 342-343

transmutation, 50, 72

Chalmers University of Technology, 451

Chemical reprocessing, 335, 371, 372

China

nuclear weapons program, 104, 367

reprocessing activities, 447

Chitin, 177

Chlorides, 38, 39, 43, 84, 85, 175

Chopping, 30, 147

Civilian waste, see Spent fuel (commercial LWR)

Cladding, 3, 22, 34, 45, 89, 147, 488

Zircaloy, 34, 45, 83, 89, 141, 147

Class C waste, 28, 44, 101

Clean Air Act (CAA), 121, 124

Clean Water Act, 124

Clinch River fast reactor, 369

Clinton Administration policies, 106, 108, 367-368

Commercial waste, see Spent fuel (commercial LWR)

Commission of the European Communities (CEC), 449, 452-453

Complete Test Ban Treaty, 367

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 19

Constant nuclear power scenario, 2, 60

ALMR transmutation, 61-64, 65, 80-81, 83

ATW, 66-68, 81, 83

deployments, 80-81

LWR transmutation, 68-70

TRU ratio, 71

Cooling systems, 38, 44

ALMR, 388, 398

Curium, 385

Costs and economics, 2, 6-7, 8, 77-78, 84-85, 112-119 passim, 413-444

ALMR, 7, 28, 75, 78, 85, 112, 115-116, 218-224, 436, 440-442, 443, 468

ATW, 76, 85, 112, 282

dose reductions, 110-111

Hanford tank waste remediation, 39, 40, 93-97 passim, 191-193

LWR transmuters, 5, 75, 78, 84, 112, 239-241

PBR, 77, 297

Phoenix, 307-308

power plants, 13, 118

pyroprocessing, 7, 40, 43, 112, 417, 441-442, 443

repositories, 12, 16, 101

separations, 37, 39, 112, 117, 442-443

see also Financing issues

Counterproliferation policy, 106, 365-366

Covert operations, 106-107, 366

Iraq, 105, 363-364

North Korea, 105, 364-365

Criticality and critical mass

in accelerators, 46

in separations, 40

in waste deposits, 100-101

Critical reactors, 51, 55-56.

See also Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR);

Fast reactors;

LWR transmutation technology;

Particle-bed reactor (PBR);

Thermal reactors

CURE (Clean Use of Reactor Energy) study, 2, 14, 49, 55, 72, 179, 387, 390, 406-408, 452

Curium (Cm), 3, 25, 27, 40, 45, 46, 47, 83

Czechoslovakia, separations research, 42, 447-448

D

Deaf Smith County, Texas, site, 15

Decay heat and radioactivity, 11, 21, 23, 32, 39, 348

and accelerators, 388, 396

and reactor site storage, 1n, 11

and repository performance, 8, 23, 31, 32, 99, 101, 315, 320-328, 348, 467

Yucca Mountain site, 8, 31, 32, 58, 100, 101, 317, 328, 467

Declining nuclear power ("phase-out") scenario, 2, 60, 71, 99

ALMR transmutation, 64-66, 71, 80, 83

ATW, 68, 71, 80

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

deployments, 78-80

LWR transmutation, 70, 71, 79-80

Decontamination factors (DF), 30, 41, 47

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), 27

Defense production wastes, 9-10, 11, 16-17, 27, 39, 126

in civilian repositories, 2, 15, 17, 18

DOE management, 11, 29-30, 39-40

high-level (HLW), 16-17, 31, 32, 37, 126

low-level (LLW), 16, 37

pyroprocessing, 29-30, 43

separation processes, 16, 17, 32, 37, 38, 39-40, 88-89, 148

site remediation, 39, 93, 98, 126

Demonstration and pilot projects, 82, 126

ALMR, 28, 217-218

ATW, 28

defense waste site remediation, 39, 93, 98, 126

pyroprocessing, 28, 30, 46, 47

separations processes, 3, 9, 29, 30, 32, 37, 39, 42, 47

Department of Energy (DOE), 14, 16, 17, 19, 47

ALMR/IFR program, 27-28, 30, 84

defense waste management programs, 11, 29-30, 39-40

and MRS facility, 15, 16, 18

S&T research funding, 1, 54

WIPP compliance demonstration, 17, 99, 119

and Yucca Mountain site, 1, 16, 32, 124

Depleted uranium, 27, 386

Developing countries, proliferation concerns, 105, 106, 361, 365, 414

Development, see Demonstration and pilot projects; Research and development

Dialysis, 174

DIAMEX process, 42

Dicarbollide, 42, 171, 447

(beta-)Diketones, 175

Dilution processes, 40, 357

Disasters, see Natural disasters

Dissolution processes, 30, 40, 43, 147

DOE, see Department of Energy

Dose, see Individual dose standard; Radiation doses

Drilling, 34, 335, 336, 338

Dry-cask storage, 124, 144

''Dual-use" concerns, 104

DuPont, 116

E

Earthquakes and seismic activity, 26, 33

Eastern Europe, see Russia and former Soviet bloc

EBR-1 reactor, 389, 398

EBR-II reactor, 388, 389, 398, 399

Economics, see Costs and economics

Effective dose equivalent, 16, 23

Electricity, see Energy production

Electrochemical separations, 39, 43-44, 46, 155

Electrodeposition, 180

Electrodialysis, 174

Electromagnetic separation, 371

Electrophoresis, 178

Electrorefining, 37, 39, 43, 47

Encapsulation, 1, 22, 32, 37

Hanford site, 16, 87, 89

Energy Policy Act (PL 102-486), 26, 34

Energy production ALMR , 108

efficiencies, 53, 81, 271-273

and health and safety risk, 108, 109, 110-111, 386, 392

projected nuclear capacity, 13-14, 77-81 passim

recoveries from spent fuel, 2, 11, 18, 61-70

Energy Reorganization Act, 124

Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA), 14

Environmental impact statements, 14, 19, 118, 121

Environmental issues, 384

reactors, 142

repositories, 145

temporary storage, 143, 144

uranium processing, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Hanford Site , 19

health-based standards, 15, 16, 26, 34, 318

standard 40CFR101 , 15, 34, 83, 336, 338, 344-348

uranium mining and processing regulation, 121

WIPP facility standards, 15, 17, 99

Yucca Mountain standards, 15, 16, 26, 34, 83n, 101, 124, 318

EPA, see Environmental Protection Agency

Euratom safeguards, 361

Eurochemic, 168

Europe

enrichment and reprocessing activities, 105, 106, 114-115, 117

proliferation safeguards, 361, 363

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

Evaporators, 180-181

Exposure, see Radiation exposure

Exxon reprocessing plant, 116

F

Facilitated transport membrane process, 174

Facilities and support, 6, 118, 119

ALMR, 209-211, 215-216

ATW, 265

LWR transmutation, 120, 232-234, 389

PBR, 289-292

Phoenix, 304

proliferation issues, 106, 107, 108, 360-361

see also Integrated reprocessing facilities

Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), 57, 388, 389, 398

Fast reactors, 2, 55-56

proliferation issues, 357, 373-374

safety issues, 387, 388, 389, 391, 398

see also Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR);

Integral Fast Reactor (IFR)

Feasibility, 5-6, 81-82, 84-85

ALMR, 5, 28, 75, 85-85

ATW, 5-6, 28, 75-76, 85

LWR transmuters, 5, 27, 74-75, 84

PBR, 76-77

Phoenix, 77

Federal government, see Atomic Energy Commission; Defense production wastes; Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency; Government financing; Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), 121

Feed Materials processing Center (Fernald), 89

Fermi reactor, 389, 398, 466

Fertile nuclides, 26

Financing issues, 8, 114-115, 117, 119-120, 427-431

power plants, 118

Fissioning, see Actinide burning

Fission products, 12, 23-25

groundwater solubility and transport, 1, 3, 23, 26, 33, 72

human intrusion, 23, 320

ingestion toxicity, 24, 25

packaging and waste forms, 2, 24-25, 335

repository risk, 1, 23-25, 33, 100

separations, 2, 12, 30, 38, 39, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 99

transmutation, 14, 50, 100

ALMR, 3, 28, 81, 100

ATW, 3, 28, 46, 81, 387

LWR, 3, 14, 27, 31, 81

reductions in inventory, 52, 72

see also Cesium;

Iodine;

Strontium;

Technetium

Flocculation, 40

Fluid fuel systems, 28, 74, 83, 85, 270-271

Fluid transport, see Groundwater dissolution and migration

Fluoride salts, 38, 44

Fluoride volatility processes, 38, 44, 46, 47, 152-153, 174-175, 180

Foreign Assistance Act, 361-362, 363

France

nuclear weapons program, 104

Phoenix reactor problems, 389, 398

PUREX use, 37, 41, 167, 448

repository development, 448

reprocessing activity, 40, 167, 362, 448

S&T development, 29, 42, 448, 454

UP3 reprocessing complex, 113, 115, 117, 369, 416, 418-419

Fuel fabrication, 21, 27, 31, 84, 120, 141

ALMR, 215-216

health effects, 109, 110, 141

LWR recycling, 233-234, 237-238

proliferation issues, 106, 107

regulation, 122

residual wastes, 234

Fused salt, 177-178

G

Gas centrifuge process, 148, 178, 181, 357, 371-372

Gaseous diffusion, 38, 357, 371

Gaseous releases, 34

carbon-14, 26, 34, 99, 318, 338, 345

see also Atmospheric releases

Gas pocketing, 271

General Electric (GE), 14, 28, 49, 54, 55, 116, 117, 201, 202, 413-414, 417, 452, 467

Generic Environmental Statement on Mixed Oxides, 118, 414

Geologic media, 385

heat capacity and thermal design, 32, 100

unsaturated, 26, 34, 100, 321, 329, 331

water saturation and infiltration, 33, 327

see also Granite repositories;

Salt deposits;

Tuff

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

Germany

repository characterization, 315

reprocessing and enrichment activities, 168, 369n, 449

sales to Iraq, 364

Glass matrices, see Vitrification

Glenn-Symington Amendment, 361-362

Government financing, 8, 114-115, 117, 119, 120, 430, 431

power plants, 118

Granite repositories, 33, 34, 330, 336, 337, 494

Graphite reactors, 38, 357-358, 372-373, 390

Groundwater dissolution and migration, 1, 3, 33, 81, 82, 99, 100, 318-320, 329, 332-335, 336, 339, 340, 346

contamination caused by human intrusion, 34, 338

fission products, 1, 3, 23, 26, 33, 72

and ingestion toxicity, 23

radiation doses, 100, 328-335

H

Hanford, Washington, site, 15, 116

low-level waste (LLW) disposal, 87, 93, 98

plutonium production, 37-38, 89, 95, 369

soil contamination, 87, 90-92

waste tanks, 9-10, 16-17, 18-19, 87-98, 126, 181

remediation costs, 39, 40, 93-97 passim, 191-193

repository disposal, 192-193, 467

vitrification, 19, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 191-192

Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement) , 18-19

Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 19

Health-based standards, 15, 16, 26, 34, 318

Health risks, 3, 22, 23-27, 108-112, 119, 384

actinides, 24, 25-26, 108-109, 111

ALMR, 108-109, 110-111, 464, 466

carbon-14, 26, 34

fission products, 23-25

latent cancer deaths, 3, 34, 102, 108, 109, 110

once-through cycle, 3, 22, 109-110, 111, 137-145

temporary storage, 143, 144

uranium mining and processing, 3, 26-27, 74, 108, 109, 110

see also Ingestion toxicity;

Radiation doses;

Repository risk;

Safety issues;

Toxicity index

Heat, decay, see Decay heat and radioactivity

Heavy water reactors (HWRs), 357-358, 372-373

Hexone, 38

High-level waste (HLW), 494

defense, 16-17, 31, 32, 37, 126

see also Spent fuel (commercial LWR)

Highly enriched uranium (HEU), 28, 105, 106, 356, 357, 359, 371-372

High neutron flux, 13, 14, 22, 44, 45, 50-51

in ATW, 28-29, 44, 45, 47

High-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), 387, 390, 404, 452

Human intrusion, 16, 34, 99, 320, 336, 338, 345, 347

actinides release risks, 1, 3, 26, 81

and fast flux systems, 100

fission products risks, 23, 320

groundwater contamination caused by, 34, 338

radiation doses, 99, 111, 335-336, 337

and thermal flux systems, 100

TRU and plutonium risks, 31, 34, 82, 99, 100, 320

uranium tailing mounds, 27

WIPP facility, 99

Hydrocarbons, 42

Hydrogen fluoride, 44

I

Idaho Chemical Processing Site, 16, 39

Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, 17, 54, 126

Imports and exports

Iraq, 364

nuclear materials, 360, 367-368

nuclear technology and systems, 105, 361, 362, 364, 366

India

proliferation concerns, 105, 358, 360, 361, 362, 414

reprocessing activities, 105, 168

research activities, 449

Individual dose standard, 16, 34, 317

Infiltration, 26, 27, 33

Ingestion toxicity, 23-26

Inhalation toxicity, 23

Injury and disease, 109, 110

Inorganic exchangers, 41, 43, 126, 172-173

Institutional issues, 8, 12, 16, 118, 119, 120

in early repository decisions, 14, 15

Integral Fast Reactor (IFR), 14, 27-28, 30, 49, 55, 84-85, 107, 108 , 369-370, 375-376, 388-389, 398, 399, 452

separation processes, 43-44, 45-46, 155-158

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

Integrated reprocessing facilities, 13, 392

ATW, 28, 46, 394

and proliferation concerns, 107, 108

transportation issues, 102, 103, 104

Integrated S&T systems, 6, 11, 13, 22, 81-82, 119

health and safety impacts, 386-387, 392

Interim storage, see Monitored retrievable storage

International activities, reprocessing, 54-55, 167-168, 447-455 passim.

See also Proliferation issues

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 104, 356, 453

inspections, 105, 106-107, 359, 360-361, 363-365, 366

safeguard system, 104 n, 105, 106, 355, 356, 357, 358-361, 363-365, 366-367, 373

International Fuel Cycle Evaluation Group (INFCE), 107, 362, 414, 415

Intrusion, see Human intrusion

Inventory fraction, 83

Iodine (I)

groundwater transport, 1, 3, 23, 26, 33, 329, 332

packaging and waste forms, 24, 25, 31, 35, 81, 82, 84

repository risk, 23-25, 330, 331, 343

separations, 44, 400

transmutation, 2, 3, 14, 24, 25, 31, 50, 81

Ion exchange and adsorption, 29, 39, 40, 41, 42-43, 47, 95, 126, 172-173, 179, 495

Ionic solvents, 38

Iran, proliferation concerns, 365, 366

Iraq

Israeli air strike, 106, 108n

weapons program and special inspections, 105, 355, 361, 363-364, 371

Iron hydroxide, 38, 40

Irradiated Source Program, 89

Isolation standards, 12, 15, 17

Isopropyl benzene, 42

Ispra Joint Research Center, 449, 452, 453

Israel

air strike against Iraqi reactor, 106, 108n

proliferation concerns, 105, 360, 362

Italy, 449, 453

J

Japan

enrichment and reprocessing activity, 41, 105, 106, 168, 362, 363, 367-368, 449, 454

Rokkashomura reprocessing plant, 113, 115, 117, 369, 416, 419

S&T activities, 449-450, 454

Jimson weed, 177

K

Karlsruhe, Germany, 168, 449, 452, 453, 454

Korea, see North Korea; South Korea

K-25 Plant, 89

L

Landfills, see Surface storage and disposal

LANL, see Los Alamos National Laboratory

Lanthanides, 28, 84

Lanthanum fluoride, 38

Laser-induced separation, 175-176, 371, 372

Lead isotopes (Pb), 26, 386

Lead targets, 28

Leukemia, 25

Licensing and certification

ALMRs, 28, 466, 467

ATW, 29

enrichment and separation facilities, 122

interim storage, 18, 123-124

mills, 121

nuclear power plants, 13, 122

Phoenix, 305-306

repositories, 1, 12, 15, 16, 99, 101, 118, 124

Light-water reactors, see Advanced light-water reactor; LWR transmutation technology; Spent fuel (commercial LWR)

Limited Test Ban Treaty, 367

Liquid-cooled graphite reactors (LGR), 38, 353-354, 357-358, 372-373 , 390

Liquid defense wastes, 16, 39

Liquid-metal reactor, see Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR)

Lithium (Li), 28, 39, 44, 148

LLW, see Low-level waste

Los Alamos Molten Plutonium Reactor Experiment (LAMPRE), 39

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), 14, 17, 47, 49, 54, 57, 89, 452

Low-enriched uranium (LEU), 105

Low-level waste (LLW), 386, 497

defense, 16, 37

disposal, 119, 124

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

Low-Level Waste Policy Act, 119

LWR (light-water reactor) transmutation technology, 2, 4, 5, 14, 27, 29, 56, 78, 79-80, 224-241

economics, 5, 75, 78, 84, 112, 239-241

feasibility, 5, 27, 74-75, 84

and repository disposal, 100, 403

research and development, 27, 74-75, 84, 126, 239

safety issues, 111, 238-239, 387, 389-390, 391, 401-403

self-generated recycling, 27, 29, 31, 68-70, 82-83, 225-227, 233-234 , 237-238

separations for, 30, 45, 402-403

LWR waste, see Spent fuel (commercial LWR)

Lyons, Kansas, salt mine, 14

M

Magnesium salt, 38

Magnetic separation, 178, 180

Manhattan Engineering District, 37

Materials accountancy, 104n, 107, 359-360

Mechanical disassembly operations, 37, 38, 39, 147

Membrane processes, 173-174

Metallic fuels, 28, 29-30, 38-39, 40, 43, 45, 215

Metallurgical Laboratory, 37-38

Methylisobutyl-ketone (hexone), 38

Microfiltration, 173

Military applications, see Defense production wastes; Proliferation issues

Military deterrence, 106, 365

Minor actinides (MA), 32, 33, 72, 84, 404

targets, 306-307, 396

Mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel, 27, 28, 30, 45, 84, 215

Molten salt processes, 38-39, 43, 147-148, 153-154, 172

Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE), 38, 44

Molybdenum, 44

Monitored retrievable storage (MRS), 1, 15, 16, 326

linkage to repository development, 16, 18

policy issues, 18

political support, 12, 16

Morris, Illinois, reprocessing plant, 165

Mound laboratory, 89

MOX, see Mixed-oxide fuel

MRS, see Monitored retrievable storage

N

National Academy of Sciences, 14, 15, 16, 101

National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, 3, 108, 109, 110

National diversion, 106-107, 358, 359, 373, 374

National Energy Strategy, 13-14

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 414

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), 121

National Research Council, 26, 34, 124, 318

Natural agents, 177

Natural disasters, 26, 33-34

Neptunium (Np), 25, 31, 40, 72, 83

decay heat, 39

and oxidizing conditions, 3, 26, 38, 82, 329

repository risk, 25, 33, 34, 343

separation and extraction, 3, 38, 41, 45, 47

Netherlands, 450

Neutron bombardment, 1, 21-22

Neutron capture, 21, 23, 50, 51

Neutron flux, see Fast reactors; High neutron flux; Thermal reactors

Neutron production, 13, 29

New Mexico repository sites, 14

Nitrate salts, 38

Nitric acid, 38, 40, 41, 42, 46, 147

Nonaqueous separations, 13, 14, 29-30, 38-39, 43

for ATW systems, 46-47, 262-263

electrochemical separation process, 39, 43-44, 46, 155

fluoride volatility processes, 38, 44, 46, 47, 152-153, 174-175, 180

molten salt processes, 38-39, 43, 147-148, 153-154, 172

salt transport process, 43, 177-178

Nonproliferation, see Proliferation issues

Nonradioactive materials reduction, 40, 47

Nonradiological health risks, 109, 110

North Korea, proliferation concerns, 105, 355, 364-365

NPT, see Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), 105, 106, 356, 358, 360-361 , 362, 363, 366-367, 414, 415

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 118, 414

containment regulations, 1, 23, 32

dose reduction policy, 110-111

LLW criteria, 44, 124

production facility regulations, 122, 123

Regulation 10CFR60 , 15, 23, 32, 34

repository licensing, 124

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

retrieval provisions, 18, 32

technical criteria and standards, 16, 34

uranium mining and processing regulation, 121-122

and WIPP project, 15

Nuclear suppliers, see Imports and exports

Nuclear Suppliers Group, 366

Nuclear Waste Fund, 15, 18

Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA), 1n, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 114, 124, 415, 430

Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act (NWPAA) of 1987, 1n, 15, 17, 18

Nuclear weapons, see Defense production wastes; Proliferation issues

O

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), 28, 38, 44, 54, 369, 450

health risk study, 3, 108, 110

waste storage and management, 17, 39, 98

Occupational health and safety, 109, 110

uranium mining and milling, 74, 109, 110

Office of the Nuclear Waste Negotiator, 18

OMEGA program, 449-450

Once-through fuel cycle, 1-2, 10, 11, 102, 136-145

economics, 113, 119, 416

health risks, 3, 22, 109-110, 111, 137-145

proliferation issues, 104-106, 108, 355-358, 362

safety issues, 390-391, 392, 408-410

transportation issues, 102, 103, 104

On-line refueling systems, proliferation issues, 359, 372-373

On-site reprocessing, see Integrated reprocessing facilities

On-site storage, see Pool storage; Reactor site storage

Operating costs, 77, 78, 114, 426-427, 443-444

Organic complexant concentrate, 89

Organic diluents, 41, 42

Organic extractants, 40, 41, 42-43, 44, 46, 48, 126

Organic resins, 172

Organization for Economic Coordination and Development/Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA) , 453-454

cost study, 7, 113, 114, 116, 416, 427, 434, 436

Oxidation-reduction technology, 38

Oxidation states, 40, 44

Oxide fuels, 39, 46, 147, 402

Oxidizing conditions, 1, 329

and carbon-14 release, 34

neptunium sensitivity, 3, 26, 38, 82, 329

Ozonolysis, 179

P

Packaging and waste forms, 3, 9, 99, 100, 101, 315, 329

carbon-14, 26, 31, 34, 84, 100

elevated temperatures, 31, 101, 327, 328

fission products, 2, 24-25, 335

low-solubility, 27, 31, 34-35, 81

optimized, 27, 34-35, 82, 335

transportation, 102-103

see also Encapsulation

Pakistan

proliferation concerns, 105, 360, 362-363

uranium enrichment, 104, 357, 362

Particle-bed reactor (PBR), 2, 14, 49, 70, 73, 285-297

cooling system, 390

economics, 77, 297

research and development, 76-77, 297

safety issues, 292, 296, 386, 387, 390, 403-406

Permian basin, 14

"Phase-out" scenario, see Declining nuclear power scenario

Phoenix accelerator, 2, 49, 57, 77, 297-308

economis, 307-308

and repository disposal, 397

safety issues, 305-306, 386, 388, 395-397

separations for, 396-397

Pipe breaks, 74

Plutonium, human intrusion risks, 31, 34, 82, 99, 100, 320

Plutonium (Pu), 12, 21, 25, 26, 28, 31, 37, 38, 39, 40, 83

proliferation issues, 31, 105, 106, 107, 108, 356, 357, 359, 367-368 , 370-371, 372-373

recovery and purification, 3, 29, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 47

recycling, 11, 14, 18, 27, 31, 39, 82-83, 85

repository risk, 31, 32, 33, 34, 82

transmutation, 2, 27, 31

ALMR, 31, 57, 58

LWR methods, 14, 57-58, 84, 224-225

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

see also PUREX (plutonium and uranium extraction) process

Policy issues, 8, 17-19, 118-119,

see also Proliferation issues

commercial spent fuel, 17-18, 31

defense wastes, 18-19

Pool storage, 22, 105, 143, 357, 362, 373

at Hanford site, 87

regulation, 123-124

Population radiation doses, 3, 108, 317, 318

Post-Cold War policies, 106, 365-366

Power production, see Energy production

Power Reactor, Innovative, Small Module (PRISM) program, 14, 55, 202

Precipitation, 176-177

Pressler Amendment, 363

Pressure-tube failure, 74, 271

PRISM program, 14, 55, 202

Private industry financing, 114, 115, 117, 119, 120, 427-429

power plants, 118

Process losses, 101

separations, 3, 4, 13, 30, 31, 38, 40, 47, 58, 84

transmutation, 71, 83-84

Proliferation issues, 8, 18, 31, 104-108, 125, 355-378

diversions and theft, 105, 106-107, 358, 359, 360, 373

international safeguards, 104n, 105, 106, 108, 355, 356, 357, 358-361, 363-365, 366-367, 371-373

treaty abrogation, 106, 107-108, 374-375

Promethium (Pm), 38

Protactinium (Pa), 26, 31, 33, 44, 386

groundwater transport, 333

Proton beams, 28, 29, 56, 85, 244-246, 273-276, 387, 393, 452

in Phoenix accelerator, 57, 388

Prototypes, see Demonstration and pilot projects

Public acceptance and opinion, 8, 119, 125

defense wastes, 18

Hanford waste tank disposal, 94, 96

geologic repositories, 11, 12, 14, 16, 118, 386

nuclear power, 13, 118, 414

Public health, see Health risks

PURETEX process, 448

PUREX (plutonium and uranium extraction) process, 3, 14, 37, 38, 40, 41-42, 46, 111, 147, 151-152

and defense wastes, 14, 16

HLW generation, 31, 42

for LWR, 29, 30, 45, 47, 402-403

process losses, 31, 58, 84

safety issues, 391

Pyroprocessing, 3, 28, 29, 31, 37, 38-39, 43, 48, 147, 148

costs, 7, 40, 43, 112, 417, 441-442, 443

defense wastes, 29-30, 43

proliferation issues, 107, 369-371

research and development, 28, 29-30, 43, 46, 47, 155-158

safety issues, 391, 399, 400

R

Radiation doses, 108, 317, 328-336, 337

background, 3, 26, 34, 111

carbon-14, 26, 34

from groundwater releases, 100, 328-335

from human intrusion, 99, 111, 335-336, 337

individual dose standard, 16, 34, 317

population, 3, 108, 317, 318

transmutation effects, 3, 22, 110-111, 341-344

Radiation exposures, 3, 108, 110, 111, 121, 492

human intrusion, 109-110

repository, 99, 328-336

uranium mining and milling, 3, 27, 386

Radioactivity, see Decay heat and radioactivity; Reactivity control; Reactivity transients

Radiolysis and radiation degradation, 3, 40, 42, 43, 47

explosive gases, 74, 271

Radionuclides, see Actinides; Fission products; names of specific elements ;

Radium (Ra), 26, 33n, 334

Radon (Rn), 27, 121, 386

Rare earth metals

potential for recycling, 2, 11

separations, 42, 43

Reactivity control

ALMR, 73

ATW, 29, 85

LWR transmuters, 27, 73, 84, 236, 387, 402

Reactivity transients

ATW, 29, 73, 85, 268-270, 271, 387-388, 393

PBR, 390

Phoenix, 73-74

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

Reactors, see Advanced light-water reactor; Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR); Fast reactors; Graphite reactors; Heavy water reactors; Integral Fast Reactor (IFR); Integrated reprocessing facilities; LWR transmutation technology; On-line refueling systems; Particle-bed reactor (PBR); Reactor site storage; Spent fuel (commercial LWR); Thermal reactors

Reactor site storage, 1, 11, 18, 22, 119, 123-124.

See also Pool storage

Reagan Administration policies, 15, 18, 362

Recycling, 99, 233-234, 237-238

plutonium, 11, 14, 18, 27, 31, 39, 82-83, 85

rare earth metals, 2, 11

uranium, 2, 11, 27, 31

REDOX process, 38, 147, 150-151

Reducing conditions, 1, 3, 33, 329

Regulations and standards, 8, 120-125

defense wastes, 18-19

health-based, 15, 16, 26, 34, 318

monitored retrievable storage, 18, 124

packaging, 1, 23, 32-33, 103

and power plants, 13, 118

and repository development, 12, 16, 118, 124

retrieval of spent fuel, 18, 32

separations plants, 30, 122

by states, 118, 119, 124-125

Release limits

EPA regulations, 26, 34, 83, 101, 121, 124, 318, 336-340, 344-348

NRC regulations, 1, 34, 121

Release pathways, see Atmospheric releases; Gaseous releases; Groundwater dissolution and migration; Human intrusion

Remote handling, 13, 17

as diversion safeguard, 107

fuel fabrication, 31, 120

and pyroprocessing, 37

in separations processes, 38

Repositories (geologic), 1, 11, 145, 490, 494

access to and retrieval from, 2, 10, 18, 32

ALMR waste, 100, 101, 341-344, 398, 400-401, 466-468

ATW wastes, 83, 124, 395

barrier systems, 32, 34, 381, 486

capacity and limits, 1-2, 7-8, 15, 18, 99, 100, 102

costs, 12, 16, 101

and defense wastes, 2, 15, 17, 18

emplacement procedures, 100, 315, 316, 325-326, 492

extension of operating period, 2

history, 14-15, 315, 357, 358

need and scheduling, 2, 10, 12, 16, 101-102, 349, 466-467

of second repository, 82, 99, 101, 102, 118

oxidizing conditions, 1, 3, 26, 34, 38, 82, 329

performance assessments, 99-100, 315-320

political support, 12, 16, 18

proliferation issues, 106

reducing conditions, 1, 3, 33, 329

site characterization, 101, 315

see also Geologic media;

Licensing and certification;

Packaging and waste forms ;

Repository risk

Repository risk, 33-34, 145, 317-320, 385-387, 392, 401

actinides, 1, 3, 25-26, 33, 81, 108-109, 111

fission products, 1, 23-25, 33, 100

once-through cycle, 328

postclosure time scales, 23, 31, 33

proof of safety, 12, 32-33

reduction-and-packaging strategies, 3, 24-25, 35, 37

transmutation technologies reduction of, 3, 33, 34, 35, 81, 320-328 , 348-349, 350, 386-387

see also Gaseous releases;

Groundwater dissolution and migration;

Health risks;

Human intrusion

Reprocessing, 21, 24, 25, 29, 30, 82, 99, 120

for ALMR feedstock, 28, 61-66, 82-83, 209-211, 216-217, 440-442

alternative technologies, 12-13, 40, 164-168

for ATW feedstock, 28, 30, 47-48, 66-68, 82, 247, 249

health risks, 108-109, 110

international activities, 167-168, 447-452

for LWR self-generated recycle, 27, 29, 31, 68-70, 82-83, 225-227

policy issues, 17-18, 31, 166-167

proliferation issues, 31, 105, 106, 107, 356-357, 361-363, 369-371

and repository risk, 100, 341-344

see also Fuel fabrication;

Integrated reprocessing facilities;

PUREX (plutonium and uranium extraction) process;

Pyroprocessing;

Separations technology

Republic of Korea, see South Korea

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

Research and development, 2, 4, 9, 10, 13, 14, 82, 118, 125-126

ALMR, 28, 54, 75, 84-85, 126, 349

ATW, 28, 29, 48, 75-76, 394, 452

DOE funding, 1, 54

international activities, 54-55, 167-168, 447-455

LWR transmutation, 27, 74-75, 84, 126, 239

PBR, 76-77, 297

pyroprocessing, 28, 29-30, 43, 46, 47, 155-158

separations, 3-4, 29, 30, 32, 37, 42, 168-178, 448

transmutation, 12-13, 54, 74-77, 84-85, 448

see also Demonstration and pilot projects

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), 19, 119, 124

Retrievable storage, 2, 10, 14, 17, 18.

See also Monitored retrievable storage

Reverse osmosis, 174

Risk, see Health risks; Repository risk; Safety issues

Robotics, 13, 95, 107

Rocky Flats Plant, 17, 89

Rokkashomura reprocessing plant, 113, 115, 117, 369, 416, 419

Russia and former Soviet bloc

BN-350 reactor problems, 389, 398

enrichment and reprocessing activities, 37, 41, 105, 168, 362, 363 , 373

proliferation concerns, 104, 106, 365, 366-367

S&T activities, 41, 451

S

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), 121, 124

Safety issues, 383-392

ALMR, 28, 73, 211-214, 215, 387, 388-389, 397-401

ATW, 28, 29, 73-74, 111, 265-273, 385, 387-388, 391, 392-395

see also Health risks;

Repository risk

Salt cakes, 16, 32, 39, 89, 95, 98, 194

Salt deposits, 14, 315, 502

Salting agents, 38, 147

Salt transport processes, 43, 177-178

Samarium (Sm), 39

Savannah River site, 16, 39, 89, 98, 116

processing facility, 16, 126, 192, 193-199, 369

TRU wastes, 17

Scale-up, see Demonstration and pilot projects

Scherrer, paul, Institute, 451, 454

Separation factors, 30, 40, 43, 47, 148

Separations technology, 13, 371

actinides, 2, 13, 29, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45

ALMR, 3, 30, 43, 45-46, 389, 399-400

ATW, 3-4, 30, 43, 44, 46-48, 262-263, 394

defense wastes, Hanford tanks, 9-10, 16-17, 32, 39, 40, 42, 88-89, 92-96, 98, 180-181

economics, 37, 39, 112, 117, 442-443

history, 37-39

process losses, 3, 4, 13, 30, 31, 38, 40, 47, 58, 84

research and development, 3-4, 29, 30, 32, 37, 42, 168-178, 448

safety issues, 30-31, 37, 40, 111, 385, 386, 391-392

and waste forms, 34, 99

waste reduction and minimization, 13, 39-40, 47

see also Aqueous separations;

Integrated S&T systems;

Nonaqueous separations;

PUREX (plutonium and uranium extraction) process;

Pyroprocessing

Shallow burial, see Surface storage and disposal

Shutdown, 21, 29, 385, 388

of accelerators, 29, 267-268, 387, 393

Siderophores, 177

Silicotitanates, 43

Siting issues, 8, 18, 118, 124, 504

reactors, 142

repositories, 101, 315

uranium processing, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141

Sludges, 17, 32, 39, 89, 92, 180

Sludge washing, 9-10, 32, 92, 93, 94-95, 98, 191, 194

Slurry fuels, 28, 29, 40, 46

Sodium carbonate, 40

Sodium nitrate, 40, 89, 98

Sodium nitrite, 40, 89, 98

Sodium void coefficient, 28, 73

Soft donor complexants, 171

Soil contamination, 17

at Hanford site, 87, 90-92

Solidified defense waste (calcine), 16

in civilian repository, 18

Hanford tanks, 95, 96

Solvent extraction processes, 96.

See also PUREX (plutonium and uranium extraction) process;

TRUEX (transuranic extraction) processes

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

South Africa

proliferation concerns, 105, 362, 363

uranium enrichment, 105, 357

South Korea

relations with North Korea, 364, 365n

S&T activities, 450

Soviet Union, see Russia and former Soviet bloc

Spent fuel (commercial LWR), 1, 11, 32-33, 39

energy recovery from, 2, 11, 18, 61-70

in geologic repositories, 1-2, 14, 15-16, 18, 22

government custody, 18, 119

research activities, 125-126

retrieval, 2, 10, 18

separations technology, 2, 3, 29-31, 39, 40, 43, 47

toxicity from ingestion, 23, 24

TRU content, 2, 15-16

see also Actinides;

Fission products;

Once-through fuel cycle;

Reprocessing

SPIN program, 448

Spontaneous fission (SF), 21

Stainless steel cladding, 147

Standards, see Regulations and standards

State regulations, 118, 119, 124-125

Steam generators, 217

Stereospecific extractants, 169

S&T integrated systems, see Integrated S&T systems

Storage, see Monitored retrievable storage; Pool storage; Reactor site storage; Repositories (geologic); Retrievable storage; Tank storage

Strontium (Sr), 24, 33, 335

decay heat, 11, 23, 24, 32, 39, 323, 326

in defense wastes, 16, 87, 89, 95, 98

separation and extraction, 40, 42, 43

storage and disposal, 47, 326, 342

transmutation, 50

Subcritical reactor assemblies, 13, 28-29, 56, 57, 85

Subnational groups, 107

Supercritical fluid extraction, 172

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 19

Surface storage and disposal, 124, 144, 388

Class C and LLW waste, 28, 44, 47, 326

TRU waste, 17, 28

Sweden

repository characterization, 315

reprocessing activities, 33n, 451

Switzerland, 451

T

Tails and tailings, 26-27, 137, 386

TALSPEAK process, 169-170, 447

Tank storage, 11, 16-17

Savannah River site, 193-199

see also Hanford, Washington, site, waste tanks

Targets and target nuclides, 16, 21, 24, 25, 28-29, 37, 44, 45, 73 , 120

in ATW system, 28-29, 46, 56, 246-247, 266-267, 280

minor actinide, 306-307, 396

in Phoenix accelerator, 398

in separations processes, 37, 43

TBP, see Tributyl phosphate

Technetium (Tc), 38, 39, 40

groundwater transport, 1, 3, 23, 26, 33, 72, 329, 332

packaging and waste forms, 24, 25, 31, 81, 82

repository risk, 23-25, 33, 330, 331, 332

separation, 30, 40, 42, 44, 178-180

transmutation, 2, 3, 14, 24, 25, 31, 50, 72, 81

"Technical Bases for Yucca Mountain Standards,"; 16, 26, 34, 328

Technical issues

in early repository studies, 14

separations, 30-31, 39-40

in S&T considerations, 12-13

Tellurium, 47

Temperature, see Decay heat and radioactivity

Temporary storage, see Monitored retrievable storage; Pool storage; Reactor site storage; Retrievable storage

Terrorism, 106, 107, 365

Thermal load, see Decay heat and radioactivity

Thermal reactors, 2, 3, 26, 56, 100.

See also Accelerator transmutation of waste (ATW);

LWR transmutation technology

Thermal-to-electrical efficiencies, 53, 81

ATW, 81, 271-273

Thorium (Th), 26, 27, 388, 393

THORP reprocessing plant, 113, 115, 117, 369, 416, 418, 427

Time scales and requirements

development

ALMR, 5, 75, 84

ATW, 6, 75, 76, 85

LWR transmuters, 5, 75, 84

repository risk, 23, 31, 33

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

S&T operations, 6, 13, 77-81, 82, 82-83, 119, 120

ALMR, 83, 209, 463-464

ATW, 83, 282-284

LWR, 83

Titanates, 43

Toxicity index, 22-23

actinides, 25

Trade, see Imports and exports

Tramex in high nitrate solutions, 170

Transmutation technology, 4-5, 7-8, 18, 22, 49-58, 123

actinides, 3, 26, 348

alternative scenarios, 60-72, 78-81

deployment, 53, 77-82

engineering and materials issues, 53-54, 74

facilities, 120

and Hanford tank wastes, 10, 16-17, 32, 39, 97, 98

health impacts, 3, 22, 109-110, 111

process losses, 71, 83-84

radiation dose reduction, 3, 22, 110-111, 341-344

research and development, 12-13, 54, 74-77, 84-85, 448

safety issues, 53, 72-74, 385, 391

separations requirements and goals, 44-48

thermal and electrical efficiencies, 53, 81

and uranium tails and tailings, 27

waste reductions, 2, 82

see also Accelerator transmutation of waste (ATW);

Actinide burning;

Advanced liquid metal reactor (ALMR);

CURE (Clean Use of Reactor Energy) study;

Integrated S&T systems;

LWR transmutation technology;

Particle-bed reactor (PBR);

Phoenix accelerator

Transportation issues, 102-103, 104

ALMR, 375, 378

ATW, 376, 377

health risks, 102, 109, 110

Transport processes, 177-178

Transuranics (TRU)

decay heat, 32, 100

in defense waste, 9, 15, 16, 17

Hanford site, 17, 89, 97

and groundwater releases, 33, 81, 334-335

human intrusion risks, 31, 34, 82, 99, 100, 320

production, 2, 51

in reactor spent fuel, 2, 15-16, 28

repository risk, 16

separations, 30, 40, 42, 45, 99

transmutation, 2, 4-5, 14, 50-51, 58-71, 82-84

ALMR, 2, 4-5, 14, 28, 61-66, 71, 82, 83, 84-85, 207-209

ATW, 2, 5, 66-68, 71, 82, 83, 85

constant power scenarios, 61-64, 65, 66-71, 83

declining power scenario, 64-66, 68, 69, 70-71, 83

LWR methods, 2, 5, 27, 30, 68-70, 71, 82, 83, 84, 89, 225-228

process losses, 71, 83-84

reductions in inventory, 7-8, 52, 53, 58-71, 82, 83, 100

uranium ore requirements, 84

Transuranic (TRU) ratio, time constant, 71

Treaties, see Abrogation of treaties; Bilateral agreements; Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty

Tributyl phosphate (TBP), 38, 40, 41, 42, 89, 151

TRUEX (transuranic extraction) processes, 3, 30, 40, 42, 47

CMPO extractant, 29, 42, 448

safety issues, 391

Tuff, 33, 34, 315, 331, 339, 340, 346, 347, 506

Tungsten targets, 28

U

Ultrafiltration, 173

Underground tanks, see Tank storage

Unit costs, 115-116, 117, 431, 443, 444

United Kingdom

fast reactor problems, 389, 398

nuclear weapons program, 104

reprocessing activity, 29, 37, 40, 41, 167, 362, 451

S&T activities, 451-452, 454

THORP reprocessing plant, 113, 115, 117, 369, 416, 418, 427

United Nations Security Council, 105, 351, 366

Unsaturated repositories, 26, 34, 100, 321, 329, 331

UP3 reprocessing complex, 113, 115, 117, 369, 416, 418-419

Uranium characteristics, 21, 25-26

toxicity, 25, 26

Uranium dioxide (UO2), 3, 21, 22, 140

Uranium enrichment, 28, 31, 38, 136, 139, 415

health risks, 109, 110, 139

proliferation concerns, 105, 106, 361-363, 371-372

regulation, 121-122

tails and depleted uranium, 27, 386

Suggested Citation:"INDEX." National Research Council. 1996. Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/4912.
×

Uranium hexafluoride (UF6), 27, 38, 44, 109, 110, 138, 148

Uranium mining and milling, 26-27, 137, 362, 415

health and safety issues, 3, 26-27, 74, 108, 109, 110, 137, 391, 392

occupational health and safety, 74, 109, 110

radiation exposure, 3, 27, 386

regulation, 121, 124

Uranium recovery and reprocessing, 31, 333-334

economics, 118, 119

enrichment tails, 27

recycling, 2, 11, 27, 31

separation methods, 14, 38, 39, 41, 43, 44

see also PUREX (plutonium and uranium extraction) process

Uranium waste content, 27, 33n

Hanford tanks, 17, 89, 91, 92, 95

U.S. Enrichment Corporation, 121

U.S. government, see Defense production wastes; Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency; Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Policy issues

Utility financing, 114, 115, 117, 120, 429-430

power plants, 118

V

Vitrification (glass matrices), 2, 16, 507

of Hanford tank waste, 19, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98, 191-192

of PUREX process wastes, 31

Savannah River facility, 16, 192, 193, 196-197

Volatility processes, 38, 44, 46, 47, 152-153, 174-175, 180

Volcanic activity, 26, 33

W

Washington State Department of Ecology, 18-19

Washington State Hazardous Waste Management Act, 19

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), 14-15, 99, 119

and TRU wastes, 17

Waste isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), EPA standards, 15, 17, 99

Wastes, see Defense production wastes; Fission products; Packaging and waste forms; Process losses; Solidified defense waste; Spent fuel (commercial LWR); Transuranics (TRU)

Water, see Groundwater dissolution and migration; Infiltration

Weapons, see Defense production wastes; Proliferation issues

Westinghouse Hanford Co., 14, 49, 54, 96, 452

West Valley Fuel Reprocessing Plant, 16, 39, 118, 165, 199, 466

WIPP, see Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

WIPP Land Withdrawal Act (PL 102-579), 15, 17

X

Xenon, 400

Y

Y-12 Plant, 89

Yucca Mountain, Nevada, site, 1, 15-16, 119, 315-316, 336n

carbon-14 releases, 26, 33n, 34, 99-100, 101

decay heat and thermal design, 8, 31, 32, 58, 100, 101, 317, 328, 467

EPA standards, 15, 16, 26, 34, 83n, 101, 124, 318

human intrusion scenarios, 16, 34

waste package performance, 32-33

Z

Zeolites, 43, 95, 199

Zirconium alloy (Zircaloy) cladding, 34, 45, 83, 89, 141, 147

Zirconium phosphate, 38

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Nuclear Wastes: Technologies for Separations and Transmutation Get This Book
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Disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear weapons production and power generation has caused public outcry and political consternation. Nuclear Wastes presents a critical review of some waste management and disposal alternatives to the current national policy of direct disposal of light water reactor spent fuel. The book offers clearcut conclusions for what the nation should do today and what solutions should be explored for tomorrow.

The committee examines the currently used "once-through" fuel cycle versus different alternatives of separations and transmutation technology systems, by which hazardous radionuclides are converted to nuclides that are either stable or radioactive with short half-lives. The volume provides detailed findings and conclusions about the status and feasibility of plutonium extraction and more advanced separations technologies, as well as three principal transmutation concepts for commercial reactor spent fuel.

The book discusses nuclear proliferation; the U.S. nuclear regulatory structure; issues of health, safety and transportation; the proposed sale of electrical energy as a means of paying for the transmutation system; and other key issues.

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