Recycle is one of the greatest opportunities provided by use of molten salt. The ability to separate reusable material from waste is crucial to the development of a sustainable future. Perhaps the most obvious application is in the recovery of fuel elements from irradiated fuel - conventional reprocessing. However, it may also be used to clean up the fuel from, and even during, the operation of a molten salt reactor - removing not the fuel, but the waste and allowing all the fuel to be used.
Recovery (or valorisation) of other valuable materials present after irradiation can also be achieved providing medical isotopes, material for industry and even space travel to be separated.
Inevitably however, there will be some waste produced. Because the waste is likely to contain residual salt, it is unlike conventional nuclear wastes and not necessarily compatible with existing processes. While this is no different than the challenge facing the nuclear industry in the earliest days of waste treatment it still needs considerable attention - particularly since no new processes will be be authorised without agreed waste treatment processes.
This working group is determined to identify ways to leverage our collective knowledge to address these challenges and realise the opportunities possible.
