• Question: what is nuclear reprocessing and decommissioning?:)

    Asked by jadehellyer to Mark on 14 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Mark Vesey

      Mark Vesey answered on 14 Mar 2011:

      Nuclear reprocessing is basically ‘recycling nuclear fuel’

      When used fuel is removed from a nuclear reactor it is still emitting radiation and heat. It is placed in storage ponds to allow it to cool and for the radiation levels to decrease. In the reprocessing plant, the fuel is dissolved in nitric acid and then undergoes chemical reaction and separation to produce three separate elements – uranium, plutonium and fission products. The Uranium (about 97% of total fuel remains as Uranium) & plutonium have potential to be made into new fuel and fission producst are the waste.

      Decommissioning is basically: Clean up and removal of all waste and dismantling of the facility. Thi can take a long time as it is generally a very complex process.

      Both of these processes are carried out with safety and the environment as the first priorty.

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