Transmutex, a private nuclear fission firm in Switzerland, has discovered a new method that could reduce nuclear waste’s radioactivity by up to 80%. Carlo Rubbia, a former director-general of the CERN physics laboratory and physicist, is the creator of this innovation.
Nagra, the national organization in Switzerland in charge of handling radioactive waste, thoroughly examined Transmutex’s creative strategy over a period of several months. The potential of this method to significantly reduce the long-term radioactivity of spent nuclear fuel was validated by Nagra’s evaluation.
In the field of nuclear energy, the problem of disposing of radioactive waste has long been a major concern. While the primary focus is frequently on the operating safety of nuclear fission reactors, the problem of managing radioactive waste—which poses a risk for thousands of years—needs immediate attention. The world is becoming more interested in nuclear fission technology as it looks for fossil fuel substitutes. Twenty countries pledged to triple their nuclear energy capacity in the next 25 years at COP28 last year, but detailed plans for the long-term storage of spent material are still missing.
In an earlier report, Interesting Engineering highlighted Finland’s initiative to store nuclear fuel one thousand feet below sea level for over 100,000 years. However, with the anticipated increase in nuclear energy production, more such storage facilities will be necessary unless innovative solutions like Transmutex’s technology are implemented.
Transmutex’s method hinges on the transmutation of elements—the process of converting one element into its isotope or another element. Utilizing a particle accelerator, the researchers propose transforming a mildly radioactive element such as thorium into an isotope of uranium. This newly generated uranium can be processed immediately in a connected nuclear fission plant. Unlike traditional uranium used in current nuclear power plants, this variant does not produce plutonium or other highly radioactive waste.
This technical development could revolutionize the nuclear energy sector by offering a more sustainable and safe way to handle radioactive waste. Adopting such advances will be essential in solving the long-term difficulties of nuclear waste management as countries step up their nuclear energy ambitions.
