The system is based on pyrochemical processing that uses molten salts and electricity at high temperatures to separate valuable nuclear materials from radioactive waste.
An American nuclear technology startup has partnered with one of the country’s leading research institutions to develop a new method of recycling used nuclear fueltransforming it into energy for advanced reactors.
A BLSK Energybased in New York, announced the signing of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Illinois to commercialize the pyroprocessing technologyan advanced recycling process designed to recover usable fuel from radioactive nuclear waste.
The agreement gives BLSK Energy exclusive access to technology developed by Argonne scientists, as well as the laboratory’s research facilities and nuclear engineering expertise. The company intends open a pilot recycling unit by 2034capable of converting spent nuclear fuel into material suitable for advanced fast reactors.
Pyroprocessing, also known as pyrochemical processinguses molten salts and electricity at high temperatures to separate valuable nuclear materials from radioactive waste. Unlike conventional nuclear reactors, fast reactors can reuse these recovered materials much more efficiently, potentially extracting up to 100 times more energy than uranium.
The project comes at a time when the United States continues to face increasing challenges regarding nuclear waste storage and fuel supply. The country has accumulated around 95,000 tons of irradiated nuclear fuelstored in more than 75 locations throughout the national territory. While much of this material still contains reusable uranium, it also includes dangerous radioactive elements such as plutonium.
Long-term plans for nuclear waste disposal in the US remain undefined for decadeswhile demand for fuel for new generation reactors is expected to increase sharply in the coming years. Proponents of pyroprocessing argue that the technology could help solve both problems simultaneouslyreducing the volume of waste and creating a new source of national fuel.
Researchers say the process could reduce the period that radioactive waste needs to remain isolated from about 300,000 years for approximately 300 years, says .
“The way forward It’s ambitious but achievable,” said Bruce Landrey, managing director and co-founder of BLSK Energy, adding that access to the intellectual property and designs of the Argonne facility reduces technical and regulatory risks associated with commercialization.
Argonne’s contribution to the partnership will be led by Yoon Il Chang, senior director of nuclear projects and scientist responsible for developing pyroprocessing technology.
