Radioactive Waste and Classification

Previously we have discussed the radioactive elements and examples, which is the introduction of this topic.

In this modern era, nuclear energy programs developed for power generation, health, even in defense all over the world, have produced thousands of tons of spent fuel and other radioactive waste. So many experts from various countries both independently and in cooperation with other countries continue to develop ways to isolate this waste safely for thousands of years so as not to harm the environment and human life.

This article will discuss the example of radioactive waste and its classification.

^{Illustration of radioactive waste from Fukushima nuclear power plant

Image Credit : www.redlinepage.com}

Classification of Radioactive Waste

^{A schematic nuclear fission chain reaction

Image credit : www.dreamstime.com}

In a nuclear reaction process, it will often produce unstable radioactive isotopes and the long time to fall, such elements are classified as radioactive waste.

Radioactive waste is categorized into three types, based on its radioactivity. Here are the types:

1. High-Level Radioactive Waste (High-Level Waste / HLW)

The waste belonging to this high level radioactive has decay radiation energy of>2kW/m3. This waste comes primarily from nuclear reactors in electric power generation.

Although the amount is very small (only 3% of the total waste), but the radiation energy is very large (reaching 90% of the total waste radiation). Higher radioactive waste is classified again based on the duration of its bill. This type of long half-life of waste is very important in the management of radioactive waste.

^{Yucca Mountain (Nevada), reactor fuel warehouse and other high-level radioactive waste

Image credit : worksthatwork.com}

Because of its enormous energy, coating and cooling are required for the process of moving and storing heavy radioactive waste.

2. Medium Radioactive Waste (ILW)

The waste belonging to medium radioactive has a decay radiation energy of about <2kW / m3. This waste mainly comes from chemical processes and electronics companies (batteries, microchips, etc.).

The amount of waste is relatively small (only 7% of total radioactive waste), and the radiation energy is small (only about 4% of total radioactive waste).

^{Rock salt that used as a subsurface container for storage of radioactive waste

Image credit : www.sott.net}

Because the energy is quite high then the storage of this waste is required coating on the process of disposal.

3. Light Radioactive Waste (Low-Level Waste / LLW)

Waste belonging to low radioactivity is usually derived from health equipment in hospitals, clothing, paper and other industries.

The amount of radioactive waste is very much (up to 90% of total radioactive waste) but the radiation energy is very small (only 1% of the total waste radiation).

^{Radioactive waste disposal site in Andrews, Texas.

Image credit : www.texasvox.org}

Because the radiation energy is very low, no coating is required during the removal and storage of this waste. Generally, radiation from this type of waste has a short decay time.

Examples of Radioactive Waste

Here are some examples of radioactive waste generated from their use in industry and in health and research:

Uranium 234: Waste from Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)
Neptunium 237: Waste from Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)
Plutonium 238: Waste from Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)
Iodine 131: Medical Waste Treatment of Thyroid Cancer
Strontium 29: Medical Waste Bone Cancer Perawatn
Cobalt 60: Medical Waste Radiotherapy
Ir 192: Medical Wastes Prostate Cancer Treatment
Cesium 137: Medical Waste Radiotherapy

Hopefully this paper on "radioactive waste and classification" can provide useful new knowledge.
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#### Reference: 1. World Nuclear Association, “Radioactive Waste Management”. http://www.world-nuclear.org/. June 2017. Feb 21, 2018. 2. Japan Atomic Energy Agency, “Generation and Classification of Radioactive Waste”. www.jaea.go.jp. Feb 21, 2018. 3. Wikipedia, “Radioactive Waste”. www.wikipedia.org. Feb 3, 2018. Feb 21, 2018. 4. Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. “Categories of Radioactive Waste”. Feb 22, 2018.