Advanced treatment strategies for challenging radioactive Wastes: Recent Developments and future directions

IF 2.1 3区工程技术 Q1 NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Nuclear Engineering and Design Pub Date : 2025-10-08 DOI:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2025.114501

Elena Torres Álvarez , Michael Gracey , Mark Cowper , Quoc Tri Phung , Borys Zlobenko , Federica Pancotti , Mafalda Guerra , Märten Kala , Janno Torop , Alan H. Tkaczyk

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Abstract

The management of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) presents increasing challenges, particularly for waste streams with complex chemistries, variable radioactivity, or combined toxic and radiological risks. Conventional treatment methods, while effective for conventional waste types, are often inadequate for these problematic streams, which require advanced and tailored approaches. This review evaluates recent progress in thermal (pyrolysis, plasma processes, fluidized bed steam reforming, molten salt oxidation) and chemical technologies (wet and electrochemical oxidation) for treating such wastes. The novelty of this work lies in its integrated analysis, which combines comparative technology mapping with assessments of scalability, regulatory and societal acceptance, and the integration of lifecycle environmental and economic metrics. Cross-technology performance matrices are presented to support process selection, together with a strategic research roadmap that prioritizes secondary waste minimization, flexible acceptance criteria, and the inclusion of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The study also highlights future trends such as mobile modular treatment systems, hybrid technologies that integrate multiple treatment approaches, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for real-time monitoring and process optimization. Overall, this review aims to provide a practical framework to guide researchers, industry, and regulators toward safe, sustainable, and industrially viable solutions for complex radioactive waste management.

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具有挑战性的放射性废物的先进处理策略：最新发展和未来方向

低、中水平放射性废物（LILW）的管理面临越来越多的挑战，特别是对于具有复杂化学物质、可变放射性或综合毒性和放射性风险的废物流。传统的处理方法虽然对传统废物类型有效，但往往不适用于这些有问题的废物流，这需要先进和量身定制的方法。本文综述了热技术（热解、等离子体、流化床蒸汽重整、熔盐氧化）和化学技术（湿法和电化学氧化）处理此类废物的最新进展。这项工作的新颖之处在于它的综合分析，它将比较技术映射与可扩展性、监管和社会接受度的评估结合起来，并将生命周期的环境和经济指标结合起来。提出了跨技术性能矩阵，以支持工艺选择，以及优先考虑二次废物最小化的战略研究路线图，灵活的验收标准，并包括生命周期评估（LCA）。该研究还强调了未来的趋势，如移动模块化处理系统、集成多种处理方法的混合技术，以及越来越多地使用人工智能（AI）和物联网（IoT）技术进行实时监控和流程优化。总之，这篇综述旨在提供一个实用的框架来指导研究人员、工业和监管机构为复杂的放射性废物管理提供安全、可持续和工业上可行的解决方案。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nuclear Engineering and Design 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

11.80%

发文量

377

审稿时长

5 months

期刊介绍： Nuclear Engineering and Design covers the wide range of disciplines involved in the engineering, design, safety and construction of nuclear fission reactors. The Editors welcome papers both on applied and innovative aspects and developments in nuclear science and technology. Fundamentals of Reactor Design include: • Thermal-Hydraulics and Core Physics • Safety Analysis, Risk Assessment (PSA) • Structural and Mechanical Engineering • Materials Science • Fuel Behavior and Design • Structural Plant Design • Engineering of Reactor Components • Experiments Aspects beyond fundamentals of Reactor Design covered: • Accident Mitigation Measures • Reactor Control Systems • Licensing Issues • Safeguard Engineering • Economy of Plants • Reprocessing / Waste Disposal • Applications of Nuclear Energy • Maintenance • Decommissioning Papers on new reactor ideas and developments (Generation IV reactors) such as inherently safe modular HTRs, High Performance LWRs/HWRs and LMFBs/GFR will be considered; Actinide Burners, Accelerator Driven Systems, Energy Amplifiers and other special designs of power and research reactors and their applications are also encouraged.