EDN: KAFERB
Authors & Affiliations
Kogtev N.M.
National Research Nuclear University "MEPhI", Moscow, Russia
Kogtev N.M. – Graduate Student, National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI”. Contacts: 31, Kashirskoe sh., Moscow, Russia, 115409. Tel.: +7 (995) 904-18-79; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Abstract
The problem of accumulation of long-lived radionuclides is one of the key challenges for modern nuclear energy. Minor actinides, including isotopes of neptunium, americium, and curium, is a significant fraction of these elements. After the decay of short-lived fission products, it is the minor actinides that become the dominant source of radioactivity in spent nuclear fuel. This long-lived radioactivity poses a serious long-term threat, hence the need to develop effective and sustainable methods for its disposal or conversion. The long half-lives of these elements complicate the processes of their storage and disposal, which requires the search for alternative approaches. This paper presents a study of transmutation, a method that is the process of transforming long-lived isotopes into shorter-lived or stable nuclides by means of nuclear reactions, in particular by neutron irradiation in special reactors. This makes it possible to significantly reduce the overall radioactivity of waste and minimize the period of its potential hazard, which can subsequently significantly reduce the volumes of long-term stored actinides. The analysis of modern approaches to transmutation implementation, developed in national and foreign research centers from 2000 to the present time, has been carried out. We consider fast neutron reactors and closed nuclear fuel cycle concepts as the most promising technologies.
Keywords
minor actinides, reactor, transmutation, nuclear power, spent nuclear fuel, fuel cycle
Article Text (PDF, in Russian)
References
- Ganev I.K., Lopatkin A.V., Orlov V.V. Homogeneous Transmutation of Am, Cm, and Np in the Core of a BREST Reactor. Atomic Energy, 2000, vol. 89, issue 5, pp. 874–879. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011334030442.
- Ganev I.K., Lopatkin A.V., Orlov V.V. Heterogeneous Transmutation of Am, Cm, and Np in a BREST Core. Atomic Energy, 2000, vol. 89, issue 5, pp. 880–883. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011386014512.
- Bergel'son B.R., Gerasimov A.S., Kiselev G.V. et al. Long-Lived-Radionuclide Transmutation Scenarios. Atomic Energy, 2002, vol. 93, issue 4, pp. 808–814. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022081411267.
- Bergel'son B.R., Gerasimov A.S., Tikhomirov G.V. Transmutation of Long-Lived Actinides in Power Reactors. Atomic Energy, 2003, vol. 95, issue 4, pp. 709–714. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ATEN.0000010989.04355.16.
- Kvaratskheli A.Yu., Konev V.N., Kochurov B.P. Transmutation of Americium in a Heavy-Water Reactor. Atomic Energy, 2003, vol. 95, issue 1, pp. 457–465. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025844213481.
- Bergelson B.R., Belonog V.V., Gerasimov A.S. et al. Np, Am, Cm utilization in a nuclear power reactor. Atomic Energy, 2009, vol. 107, issue 2, pp. 103–109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-009-9203-5.
- Ponomarev L.I., Belonogov M.N., Volkov I.A. et al. Np, Am, Cm Transmutation in Different Types of Reactors. Atomic Energy, 2019, vol. 126, issue 3, pp. 150–155. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-019-00529-x.
- Larionov I.A., Lopatkin A.V., Lukasevich I.B. et al. Homogenous Transmutation of 237Np, 241Am, 243Am in a Lead-Cooled Fast Reactor. Atomic Energy, 2021, vol. 129, issue 6, pp. 326–330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-021-00756-1.
- Isanov K.A., Susakin V.A., Eliseev V.A., Gulevich A.V. Issledovaniye vliyaniya izotopnogo kachestva plutoniya MOKS-topliva na nakopleniye i effektivnost' vyzhiganiya minornykh aktinidov v reaktore tipa BN [Investigation of the effect of the isotopic quality of plutonium MOX fuel on the accumulation and efficiency of burning minor actinides in a BN-type reactor]. Voprosy atomnoy nauki i tekhniki. Seriya: Yaderno-reaktornyye konstanty – Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants. 2024, no. 4, pp. 137–151.
- Isanov K.A., Susakin V.A., Zakirov N.A., Eliseev V.A., Gulevich A.V. Sravnitel'nyy analiz effektivnosti gomogennogo vyzhiganiya minornykh aktinidov v reaktore tipa BN s MOKS- i SNUP-toplivom [Comparative analysis of the efficiency of homogeneous burning of minor actinides in a BN-type reactor with MOX and SNUP fuel]. Voprosy atomnoy nauki i tekhniki. Seriya: Yaderno-reaktornyye konstanty – Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants. 2025, no. 1, pp. 75–89.
- Grachev A.F., Zherebtsov A.A., Zabudko L.M., Khomyakov Yu.S., Shadrin A.Yu., Glushenkov A.E., Skupov M.V. Vovlecheniye minornykh aktinidov v zamknutyy toplivnyy tsikl proyekta “Proryv” [Integration of Minor Actinides into the Closed Fuel Cycle of the “Proryv” Project]. Voprosy atomnoy nauki i tekhniki. Seriya: Materialovedeniye i novyye materialy – Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Materials Science and New Materials, 2024, issue 4, pp. 146–150.
- Zhemkov Zh.Yu., Naboyshchikov Yu V., Polezhaev A.A., Khasanova A.E. Raschotnyye issledovaniya effektivnosti vyzhiganiya mladshikh aktinidov v reaktore BOR-60. Nauchnyy godovoy otchet AO “GNTS NIIAR” (otchet ob osnovnykh issledovatel'skikh rabotakh, vypolnennykh v 2019 g.). Pod obshchey redaktsiyey V.V. Kalygina [Computational Studies of Minor Actinide Burnup Efficiency in the BOR-60 Reactor. Scientific Annual Report of JSC “SSC RIAR” (Report on Key Research Activities Conducted in 2019). Edited by V.V. Kalugin]. Dimitrovgrad, RIAR Publ., 2020. Pp. 27–30.
- Gabriellia F., Rineiskia A., Vezzonia B., Mascheka W. et al. ASTRID-like Fast Reactor Cores for Burning Plutonium and Minor Actinides. Energy Procedia, 2015, no. 71, pp. 130–139. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.863.
- Camarcat N., Garzenne C., Le Mer J., Leroyer H. et al. Industrial research for transmutation scenarios. Comptes Rendus Mecanique. 2011, no. 339, pp. 209–218. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crme.2011.01.006.
- Shelley A., Hasan Ovi. Use of americium as a burnable absorber for VVER-1200 reactor. Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 2021, no. 53, pp. 2454–2463. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2021.02.024.
UDC 621.039.33
Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants, 2025, no. 3, 3:3
