Full Report [PDF, 3.7 MB]
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Findings
Recommendations
Chapter I: High-level Waste and Transmutation Schemes
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
What is Transmutation?
Composition of high level waste
Characteristics of the radionuclides considered for transmutation
Transmutation as proposed solution
Chapter II: Separation
General description of separation processes
Aqueous processes
Dry Processes
Overview of the programs by countries
Health, safety and cost issues associated with separation
Chapter III: Transmutation in critical reactors
Types of fuels and targets
Health and safety considerations relating to fuel fabrication of the transuranics
Transmutation in LWRs
Transmutation in fast reactors
Chapter IV: Transmutation in Accelerators
Accelerators
Separations
Overview of Spallation
Types of Fuels and Coolants
Sub-critical Reactors
Specific Accelerator Based Research Programs
Chapter V: Implications
The Results of Transmutation
Reactor Safety
Cost
Proliferation
Environment, Safety and Health
Nuclear Fuel Cycles
Waste Management
Appendix A: Basics of Nuclear Physics
Appendix B: Plutonium and Uranium
Appendix C: Basics of Nuclear Reactors
Glossary
References
Figures
Figure 1: Stages of the Transmutation Process
Figure 2: Estimated Doses from a Repository in Basalt
Figure 3: Radiotoxicity of Radionuclides in Spent LWR Fuel
Figure 4: Overview of the Proposed Aqueous Processes
Figure 5: PUREX Process (An example of UP3 La Hague)
Figure 6: TRUEX process
Figure 7: DIDPA process
Figure 8: DIAMEX process
Figure 9: Aqueous scheme for France with Possible Separation Schemes Related to the SESAME Process
Figure 10: Aqueous scheme for Japan
Figure 11: Diagram of the ANL-IFR Separation
Figure 12: Baseline LWR Reprocessing for the United States
Figure 13: LWR and ATW Reprocessing Combined
Figure 14: Accelerator Transmutation System
Figure 15: Simple RF Cell
Figure 16: Cyclotron
Figure 17: Spallation Source and Surrounding Fuel
Figure 18: The Spallation Processes
Figure 19: U.S. ATW Roadmap Proposed System
Figure 20: U.S. ATW Roadmap Preliminary Materials Flowchart
Figure 21: New Fuel Cycles
Figure 22: Integrated Schedule for RD&D and Deployment of ATW Technology
Figure 23: Transportation For Once-Through Versus Transmutation Fuel Cycles
Tables
Table 1: Transmutation schemes
Table 2: Main Long-lived Radionuclides of Concern
Table 3: Comparison of U.S. and French Spent Fuel and High Level Waste Inventories
Table 4: Characteristics of Radionuclides in Spent Light Water Reactor Fuel Considered for Transmutation or Long-Term Monitored Storage
Table 5: Overview of Transmutation Schemes
Table 6: Various reprocessing processes associated with proposed transmutation schemes
Table 7: Status of fuel fabrication techniques for critical reactors
Table 8: Minor transuranic isotope growth in a light water reactor loaded with a 30% MOX core
Table 9: Transmutation of neptunium and americium in LWRs
Table 10: Computer estimates of transmutation of neptunium and americium in an EFR (European Fast Reactor) type
Table 11: Summary of Estimated Undiscounted ATW System Life-Cycle Costs (billions of 1999 dollars)
Table 12: Specific Activities of Various Chemical Forms of Extracted LWR Uranium, Depleted Uranium, TRU Waste and 0.2% Uranium Ore
Table 13: Calculated Unit Costs for Conventional Aqueous Reprocessing, 900 Mg/yr., U.S. Financing
Table 14: ATW Roadmap Cost Estimate Summary (billions of 1999 dollars)
Also available on this website:
Full Report [PDF, 3.7 MB]
Executive Summary
Press Release
Statement of Hisham Zerriffi
Statement of Annie Makhijani
Article on transmutation in Science for Democratic Action vol. 8 no. 3 (May 2000)
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Institute for Energy and Environmental Research