Spent fuel reprocessing is a chemical process that separates usable fissile materials from nuclear waste, allowing them to be reused as fuel in nuclear reactors. This process not only helps in reducing the volume of high-level radioactive waste but also extends the energy yield from the original uranium or plutonium resources.

Spent Fuel Reprocessing

A chemical process involves the transformation of raw materials into desired products through chemical reactions, often facilitated by catalysts and occurring under controlled conditions. These processes are fundamental in industries such as pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and food production, and are designed to maximize efficiency, yield, and safety while minimizing waste and environmental impact.

Chemical Process

Usable fissile materials

Nuclear waste

Nuclear reactors are devices used to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction, primarily for electricity generation or research purposes. They operate on the principle of nuclear fission, where the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts, releasing a significant amount of energy in the process.

Nuclear Reactors

High-level radioactive waste

Energy yield refers to the amount of usable energy generated from a particular energy source, often expressed as a ratio of output energy to input energy. It is a critical metric in evaluating the efficiency and viability of energy technologies, influencing both economic and environmental decision-making.

Concepts

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