Approaches to Disposal of Nuclear Waste

Michael I. Ojovan () and Hans J. Steinmetz
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Michael I. Ojovan: Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Hans J. Steinmetz: Faculty of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Heinrich-Mußmann-Straße 1, 52428 Jülich, Germany

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-23

Abstract: We present a concise mini overview on the approaches to the disposal of nuclear waste currently used or deployed. The disposal of nuclear waste is the end point of nuclear waste management (NWM) activities and is the emplacement of waste in an appropriate facility without the intention to retrieve it. The IAEA has developed an internationally accepted classification scheme based on the end points of NWM, which is used as guidance. Retention times needed for safe isolation of waste radionuclides are estimated based on the radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. Disposal facilities usually rely on a multi-barrier defence system to isolate the waste from the biosphere, which comprises the natural geological barrier and the engineered barrier system. Disposal facilities could be of a trench type, vaults, tunnels, shafts, boreholes, or mined repositories. A graded approach relates the depth of the disposal facilities’ location with the level of hazard. Disposal practices demonstrate the reliability of nuclear waste disposal with minimal expected impacts on the environment and humans.

Keywords: disposal; nuclear waste; retention time; disposal facility; geological disposal; borehole disposal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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