Nuclear Waste Vitrification in the United States: Recent Developments and Future Options

TLDR

Nuclear power is essential for global energy growth with low greenhouse gas emissions, yet used fuel must be disposed of, and vitrification of high‑level waste is the preferred technology for immobilizing it, with recent advances promising a closed U.S. fuel cycle.

Abstract

Nuclear power plays a key role in maintaining current worldwide energy growth while minimizing the greenhouse gas emissions. A disposition path for used nuclear fuel (UNF) must be found for this technology to achieve its promise. One likely option is to recycle UNF and immobilize the high‐level waste (HLW) by vitrification. Vitrification is the technology of choice for immobilizing HLW from defense and commercial fuel reprocessing around the world. Recent advances in both recycling technology and vitrification show great promise in closing the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle in an efficient fashion. This article summarizes the recent trends, developments, and future options in waste vitrification for both defense waste cleanup and closing the nuclear fuel cycle in the United States.