What is Green Uranium?

摘要

In my mind, uranium has always been a relatively 'green' source of power: highly concentrated energy, a lack of greenhouse gas emissions and a very small quantity of final waste are some of the principal green characteristics. The conversion of nuclear weapons to nuclear fuel and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel might also be considered green as these processes provide maximum utilisation of an existing resource. In addition, I think that we can all agree that minimising the quantity of nuclear weapons is a good thing and that reduction in waste quantities of spent nuclear fuel is also desirable and green. We can also classify utilisation of existing inventories and re-enrichment of enrichment tailings as green. Neither result in additional land disturbance or additional waste.Are there other green concepts for uranium? I think so. Consider, for example, the removal of uranium from product or waste streams wherein it might otherwise be unutilised or enter the environment as a contaminant. These concepts are explored in this presentation.