Transmutation and Advanced Fuel Cycle: A Future Prospect for Nuclear Waste Reduction

Waste management strategies anticipate the utilization of deep geological repositories for either the ultimate disposal of irradiated fuel or, following the reprocessing and reuse of uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu), for the final disposal of long-lived radioactive materials. Regulations and international standards play a crucial role in ensuring that nuclear waste disposal is conducted in a manner that minimizes risks and adheres to safety protocols. It’s essential to note that the choice of disposal method depends on various factors, including the type of nuclear waste, its radioactivity, and the regulatory and environmental considerations of the specific region. Ongoing research and technological developments continue to shape the field of nuclear waste management. This review discusses about the partitioning and transmutation (P&T), and advanced fuel cycles, for reducing nuclear waste. Partitioning and transmutation go hand-in-hand in reducing the radiotoxicity in the environment by identifying the toxic isotope and trans-muting it using techniques like accelerator-driven systems (ADS), reactors, etc. Furthermore, the advanced fuel cycles which include fast neutron reactors and closed fuel cycles, plays a vital role in recycling and reprocessing the essential fissionable isotopes and thus escalate the competence of the transmutation process. Finally, this article also reviews the future advancements and scope of waste reduction methods and their applications in reducing radiotoxicity.