Sample interview questions: Can you explain the concept of nuclear transmutation and its potential for waste management?
Sample answer:
Nuclear transmutation is the process of converting one element into another by altering its atomic nucleus. It has significant potential for waste management, particularly in the context of radioactive waste.
Radioactive waste, a byproduct of nuclear power generation and other nuclear activities, poses a significant environmental and health hazard due to its long-lived nature and the challenges associated with its safe disposal.
Nuclear transmutation offers a promising solution to address this issue. By converting long-lived radioactive isotopes into shorter-lived or stable isotopes, the potential hazards associated with radioactive waste can be greatly reduced. This can be achieved through various nuclear reactions, such as neutron capture, proton irradiation, and spallation.
The feasibility of nuclear transmutation has been extensively studied, and several technologies are currently under development to implement this process on a large scale. Accelerator-driven systems (ADS), for instance, utilize high-energy accelerators to generate neutrons that induce transmutation reactions in radioactive waste. Another approach involves the use of molten salt reactors, which can simultaneously generate energy and transmute radioactive isotopes.
Nuclear transmutation not only reduces the long-term risks associated with radioactive waste but also offe… Read full answer