NUCLEAR WASTES:

Technologies for Separations and Transmutation

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The "Once-Through" Fuel Cycle
The S&T Concepts
Overall Conclusions
Detailed Findings and Conclusions
Principal Recommendations
1. INTRODUCTION
   Committee Mission and Operation
   Background On Spent Reactor Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposal
   Organization of the Report
   References

2. SUMMARIES OF S&T PROPOSALS AND RADIONUCLIDES RELEASE SCENARIOS
   IN REPOSITORY
   Source and Characteristics of Radionuclides in Spent Fuel
   Summary of S&T Proposals and Technology Statements
   Radionuclides and Repository Performance
   References

3. SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY
   Historical Background
   Types of Wastes
   Types of Separations
   Separations for Transmutation of LWR Fuel
   Conclusions
   References

4. TRANSMUTATION SYSTEMS
   Transmutation Processes and Concepts
   Reduction of Transuranic Inventories
   Reduction of Key Fission Product Inventories
   Safety Issues for the Reactor, Fuel Materials, and Supporting Fuel Cycle
   Development Time, Cost, Feasibility, and Risk Through System Demonstration
   Time Scales and Costs for Model System Deployments
   Comparative Thermal and Electrical Efficiencies
   Principal Findings and Conclusions
   References

5. DEFENSE WASTES
   The Hanford Tanks
   Scenarios for Hanford Tank Remediation
   Conclusions and Recommendations
   References

6. ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES
   Impact of S&T On Waste Repository
   Transportation-Related Issues
   Proliferation Issues
   Health and Safety Issues
   Cost of Fuel Reprocessing
   Policy, Institutional, and Management Issues
   Regulatory Issues
   Research and Development Needs
   References

APPENDIXES
1. STATEMENT OF WORK

2. LIST OF COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE ACTIVITIES

3. BASE CASE ONCE-THROUGH URANIUM FUEL CYCLE FOR LIGHT-WATER REACTOR WITH GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY

4. SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY
   Introduction
   Aqueous Processes
   Nonaqueous Processes
   Reprocessing Experience in the United States and Abroad
   Future Separations Processes
   References

5. DEFENSE WASTES—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
   Hanford Disposal Costs for High-Level Waste Canisters
   Savannah River Site Plans for A Defense Waste Processing Facility
   References
   Selected Bibliography

6. TRANSMUTATION CONCEPTS
   Advanced Liquid-Metal Reactor
   The Light-Water Reactor
   The Los Alamos Accelerator Transmutation of Waste
   The Particle Bed Reactor Concept
   The Accelerator-Based Phoenix Concept
   References

7. EFFECTS ON REPOSITORY
   Background Information On Repository Performance
   Impact of Transmutation
   Summary and Conclusions
   References

8. NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION ISSUES
   Introduction
   Nonproliferation Policy and International Safeguards
   Assessment of Proliferation Issues for S&T Systems
   Case 1: Integral Fast Reactor Breeder/Burner
   Case 2: Baseline Accelerator Transmutation of Waste
   Case 3: Advanced Accelerator Transmutation of Waste
   Case 4: Hybrid Almr/Lwr System
   References

9. HEALTH AND SAFETY
   Introduction
   Discussion of Concepts
   ATW
   ALMR/IFR
   LWR
   PBR
   CURE
   Risk and Safety Summaries: Radioactive Waste Treatment Concepts
   References

10. FUEL REPROCESSING ECONOMICS
    Introduction
    Historical Perspective
    Relative Economics of Reprocessing Versus Once-Through Fuel Cycle
    Principal Issues in Determining Whether To Adopt Reprocessing and Transmutation As A Waste Management Strategy
    Reprocessing-Plant Capital Costs
    Reprocessing-Plant Operating Costs
    Financing of Reprocessing/Transmutation Reactor Facilities
    Estimated Unit Costs of Lwr Reprocessing
    Comparison With Published Reprocessing Prices,
    Comparison With OECD/NEA Breakeven Reprocessing Price
    Reprocessing-Cost Sensitivity Studies
    Potential Savings for Nth-Of-A-Kind Plants,
    Threshold Cost of LWR Fuel Reprocessing for ALMR Use
    Historical Cost Growth On Projects Employing Advanced Technologies
    Summary and Conclusions
    References

11. SUMMARY OF INTERNATIONAL SEPARATIONS AND TRANSMUTATIONS ACTIVITIES
    Programs of Individual Nations
    International Organizations
    OECD/NEA
    Observations
    References

12. INTERIM REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSMUTATION SYSTEMS

13. BIOGRAPHIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSMUTATION SYSTEMS

14. GLOSSARY OF TERMS

15. ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

16. GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

    INDEX

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