A new technology developed at the **[Argonne National Laboratory](https://www.anl.gov/)**, USA, promises to **[drastically reduce the mass and hazard](https://noticiasambientales.com/innovacion/crean-tecnologia-que-convierte-residuos-nucleares-en-energia-electrica-utilizando-luz/)** of used nuclear fuel waste. This system aims to reduce its volume by 28 times and decrease its radiotoxic management time by 333 times.
The method is based on nuclear transmutation, a process that **[converts highly radioactive materials](https://noticiasambientales.com/innovacion/crean-tecnologia-que-convierte-residuos-nucleares-en-energia-electrica-utilizando-luz/)** into other materials with much shorter lifespans. The project uses a subcritical mantle of liquid lead with minor actinide particles suspended on a nanoscale.
Unlike other methods, waste separation does not require chemical processes but rather centrifugal force. **[This approach reduces risks and simplifies the handling](https://noticiasambientales.com/innovacion/crean-tecnologia-que-convierte-residuos-nucleares-en-energia-electrica-utilizando-luz/)** of radioactive materials.
The environmental impact of this technology could be enormous: waste that would currently fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool **[would be reduced to the size of a hot tub](https://noticiasambientales.com/innovacion/crean-tecnologia-que-convierte-residuos-nucleares-en-energia-electrica-utilizando-luz/)**, making storage and treatment easier.
## Eliminating the Most Toxic from the Nuclear Cycle
One of the main objectives of the project is to **[remove minor actinides](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)**, hazardous byproducts of used fuel such as neptunium, americium, and curium. These substances represent **[one of the biggest challenges for long-term nuclear safety](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)**.
Argonne’s plan includes **[eliminating the U.S. national inventory of these wastes in less than 30 years](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)**. This would signify an unprecedented improvement in the sector’s sustainability.
Furthermore, with the use of reactor “digital twins,” the team can simulate fission and maintenance processes in real-time, increasing operational safety without generating additional emissions.
The possibility of **[reducing waste and increasing technological efficiency](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)** could redefine the role of nuclear energy as a key ally in the ecological transition. Less waste, fewer risks, and greater social acceptance could mark the beginning of a new energy era.
## Nuclear Waste: A Long-lasting Toxic Legacy
Nuclear waste represents **[one of the most critical environmental challenges of the 21st century](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)**. Generated after using fuel in reactors, they contain highly radioactive materials that can remain hazardous for thousands of years.
Among these wastes, minor actinides such as neptunium, americium, and curium are especially problematic. Their high radiotoxicity and prolonged half-life **[require them to be stored in extremely controlled conditions](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)** to prevent environmental leaks or human exposure.
**[Deep geological storage](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)** is currently **[the only viable solution](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)**, but it poses risks: potential earthquakes, structural failures, or water infiltration could compromise containment. Furthermore, its management requires expensive infrastructure and surveillance for generations.
The accumulation of these wastes in different parts of the planet continues to grow, increasing pressure to find **[safe and sustainable technological alternatives](https://noticiasambientales.com/residuos/un-nuevo-metodo-podria-resolver-el-problema-de-los-residuos-nucleares/)**. Nuclear transmutation, for example, emerges as one of the most promising proposals to reduce this global danger.
