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on 2/7/25 at 10:34 AM
Once irradiated or “spent” nuclear fuel is unloaded from a reactor it is usually stored at the reactor site for between five and ten years. It is then ready for long-term storage or for reprocessing if a closed or partially closed fuel cycle with recycling is being pursued.
Beyond conventional reprocessing to reuse uranium and plutonium as new nuclear fuels, there are also opportunities to recycle other materials from nuclear fuels. In the process, this recycling could address societal needs in industrial, medical and space applications.
This publication explores how this might be done. It examines actinide elements, noble gases, platinum group metals, rare earth elements and zirconium. It emphasises the economic, environmental, and societal impacts, aligning with sustainability goals and the circular economy, offering a forwardthinking perspective for future nuclear energy strategies. It was produced by the NEA Expert Group in Fuel Recycling and Waste Technology (EGFRW) to reflect the changing landscape of nuclear fuel cycle chemistry.
