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All the significant high level waste is contained in the spent fuel, and will stay there when the fuel is stored after unloading, unless the fuel is taken to a plant designed for dismantling and separating it. This is done in the UK and France, possibly Russia, I'm not sure about that, but not in the US, not for commercial reactors anyway. The fissile part of the new fuel is about 4 percent U-235 and it is discharged with about 1 percent remaining so that difference determines the percentage of fission products in the discharged fuel. It will also contain plutonium which has been formed from the U-238 which forms 96 percent of the new fuel, but again a lot of the fissile plutonium formed will have been burned up during reactor operation. So the percentage by weight is a fairly small part of the spent fuel, most of which will be U-238, which if separated out is fairly inocuous and could be used in breeder reactors if we had any.
What else can I help you with?
What are the causes of nuclear and toxic waste?
nuclear waste is a by product of nuclear power plants, or in the creation of nuclear weapons.
What waste problems of nuclear power plants is NOT a problem with a coal burning power plant?
fear of the waste.
What energy waste is pruduced by nuclear power plants?
Heat.
Where are nuclear waste from nuclear power plants currently stored?
In the US they're stored on site.
Which nuclear process occurs within nuclear power plants and produces radioactive waste materials?
Nuclear Fission
Nuclear waste has come from nuclear power plants?
Most of it does, but some comes from weapons manufacture as well
What has been done with nuclear waste?
The honest answer is the USA has been producing a great deal of nuclear waste and ignoring the problem of what to do with it. President Obama wants more nuclear power plants, but, has not said what to do with nuclear waste. A lot of waste is stored in nuclear power plants, but, they are getting filled up fast, and that is not really a good idea. The possibility of an accident or theft is very real.
What has the author Carl E Behrens written?
Carl E. Behrens has written: 'International agreement to cut off production of nuclear weapons material' -- subject(s): Nuclear nonproliferation 'Nuclear waste management' -- subject(s): Radioactive waste disposal 'Nuclear waste management' -- subject(s): Radioactive waste disposal, Government policy, Radioactive wastes, Management, Hazardous wastes 'Nuclear nonproliferation policy' -- subject(s): Nuclear nonproliferation 'Nuclear power' -- subject(s): Accidents, Nuclear power plants, Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant (Pa.) 'Enriched uranium supplies for nuclear power plants' -- subject(s): Uranium enrichment, Nuclear power plants 'The Convention on nuclear safety' -- subject(s): Convention on Nuclear Safety, Design and construction, Nuclear power plants, Safety measures
What are the risk of generating electricity by using nuclear power plants?
The waste is the issue.
Which is a waste problem of nuclear power that does not occur with coal-burning power plants?
One unique waste problem of nuclear power is the production of highly radioactive spent fuel rods. Unlike coal-burning power plants, nuclear power plants generate this waste that remains hazardous for thousands of years and requires specialized storage and disposal methods to prevent environmental contamination and health risks.
How much waste do the nuclear power plants in the US make each year?
Nuclear power plants in the US produce approximately 2,000-2,300 metric tons of radioactive waste each year. This waste is mainly in the form of used nuclear fuel, which is stored on-site at the plants until a long-term disposal solution is established.
Is the radioactive waste from nuclear power plants dangerous?
It contains a higher amount of radioactivity
