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Nuclear reactors produced radioactive waste Find out what happens to the waste products How are they disposed of?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
I don't think any country has yet been able to permanently dispose of high level nuclear waste, it needs a permanent repository to be built and no government has been willing to tackle this in the face of public resistance. In the US the waste has simply been kept on the power station sites, in the UK and France it has been transported to a central site and some fuel has been chemically separated to extract useful uranium and plutonium, but the radioactive waste is still stored in 'temporary' facilities, which in some cases have been in use for 50 years, since power production started (1956 in the UK). Look up 'Sellafield' in Wikipedia.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What kind of toxic waste are produced by nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy produces wastes in the form of spent nuclear fuels, which are a mixture of radioactive isotopes and heavy metals - both of which are toxic - and irradiated materials surrounding the reactor which become radioactive from exposure to the radiation produced by the reactor and which must be disposed of at the end of the life of the reactor. Note that breeder reactors - which are not permitted in the USA - convert some of the otherwise unusable radioactive isotopes into fissionable isotopes, thus allowing more of the fuel to be used and reducing amount of fuel rod waste (with the rods being re-processed to recover more usable fuel rather than just disposed of).
What does radio active waste mean?
any undesired radioactive material. commonly products of nuclear reactors, but can come from other sources.
What are the differences between natural radioactivity nd artificial radioactivity?
Natural Radioactivity arises from radioactive components contained in nature. Artificial Radioactivity will come through element produced with in nuclear reactors as well as accelerators. Natural Radioactivity is a spontaneous process of disintegration. Artificial Radioactivity is carried in synthetically produced radioactive elements used in nuclear reactors.
What mineral is probably the source for radioactive isotopes derived from nuclear reactors?
uranium is probably the source for radioactive isotopes derived from nuclear reactors
What has the author C R Boss written?
C. R. Boss has written: 'Radioactive effluents from CANDU 6 reactors during normal operation' -- subject(s): CANDU reactors, Radioactive wastes
Is plutonium produced only in breeder reactors?
No, plutonium is obtained in all the types of nuclear reactors.
How old is fallout?
If you are referring to radioactive fallout on the planet earth, it is two billion years old. Africa has places where natural reactors formed where U235 precipitated from streams where they reached the ocean. They produced fallout.
The differences between natural and artificial radioactivity?
Natural radioactivity arises from radioactive components contained in nature. Artificial radioactivity will come through, elements produced within nuclear reactors as well as accelerators.
Why is uranium used in nuclear power production?
Uranium is a radioactive substance. Nuclear power production is carried out by the energy supplied by nuclear reactors. Nuclear reactors control the energy emission by nuclear fission reaction in radioactive substance when bombarded by neutrons.
Which radioactive element is used in nuclear reactors?
Usually Uranium 235 but sometimes Plutonium 239
Is uranium a nutrient?
No, Uranium is a rare-ish element whose radioactive isotope is often used in nuclear reactors. ingestion of radioactive elements can result in death
How is radioisotopes used in nuclear reactors?
Radioisotopes for many uses (e.g. medical, industrial, scientific) are produced in nuclear reactors.
