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By: Deepak Pydipamula, Rohith Reddy Devireddy, and Sri Charitha Annam.
Student, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Student, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India*
| *Author for Correspondence Sri Charitha Annam E-mail: [email protected] |
The safe management and disposal of radioactive waste is one of the most critical unsolved challenges in the continued development and use of nuclear energy. Radioactivity is the emission of energy from a radioactive material. Most of the time, this energy is used for power, medical, and industrial purposes. Unfortunately, all this use of energy gives rise to its waste. The impact of improper disposal of radioactive waste is a major threat to the environment. The release of this waste poses an immediate, if accidental, threat to natural environments and ecosystems. The disposal of waste that exposes humans over the long term is similarly detrimental. While various solutions to radioactive waste disposal exist today, the most common practices do not solve this problem in the long-term; they usually just contain or isolate it. Solutions to the disposal of radioactive waste should be examined not only for safety and efficiency, but from the standpoint of the time horizons over which they are sustainable. The present paper will focus on a few of the main problems in radioactive waste disposal and propose two solutions to the problems in keeping with the aims of sustainable development. The first is to improve current methods of disposal by expanding upon encapsulation and treatment of this waste. Reinforced concrete spheres with inserts to allow for reinforced lead shielding can be used to encapsulate disposed radioactive waste. Engineered microorganisms can also be used to render waste waters that contain radioactive waste harmless or to reduce their volume. The second proposed solution, while not yet entirely feasible, involves the deployment of radioactive waste in high earth orbits as a means of disposal. In the following sections, current disposal practices will be examined and the proposed solutions compared to them on solving the long-term problem of disposing radioactive waste.
Citation:
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