Special Team for Partitioning and Utilization Technology Development
Development of Technology for Recycling Waste
Special Team for
Partitioning and Utilization Technology Development
Team Leader /
Yasutoshi BAN
Purpose / Mission
Our objective is to develop the technology for partitioning high-value elements from nuclear-spent fuel, allowing their application in industrial and medical fields. In particular, regarding elements that depend on foreign supply, this technology can develop new supply sources and contribute to securing resources.
Utilizing recycled elements in society
Radioactive waste generated by nuclear power generation includes platinum group and rare earths, which are valuable resources. We will enhance partition methods, including solvent extraction and laser-assisted techniques developed by JAEA, and make them available to society as new technologies.
Partition tests in hoods and glove boxes
Continuous multi-stage extraction tests with/using concrete cells
Properties of spent fuel as valuable element resources
- The content percentage of platinum group elements is higher than that of native ores.
- If 800 tons of spent fuel is processed, the amount of recycled platinum group metals (ruthenium, rhodium, and palladium) can meet up to 15% of annual domestic demand, with an estimated value of approximately 30 billion yen.
- It will be a source of yttrium-90, a radiopharmaceutical.
- It can serve as a resource security measure for rare earths, which are highly dependent on foreign supply.
batteries / heat sources
We are looking for users and suppliers / donors of the partitioned elements.