Radioactive waste disposal nuclear fusion

Nuclear energy, which is obtained when nucleons (protons and neutrons) are allowed to adopt lower energy arrangements and to release the excess energy as heat, does not contribute to the carbon dioxide load of the atmosphere, but it does present pollution problems of a different land radioactive waste. Optimists presume that this waste can be contained, in contrast to the burden of carbon dioxide, which spreads globally. Pessimists doubt that the waste can be contained—for thousands of years. Nuclear power depends directly on the discipline of chemistry in so far as chemical processes are used to extract and prepare the uranium fuel, to process spent fuel, and to encapsulate waste material in stable glass blocks prior to burial. Nuclear fusion, in contrast to nuclear fission, does not present such serious disposal-related problems, but it has not yet been carried out in an economic, controlled manner. 

Research efforts are being made to develop a nuclear fusion reactor as a source of useful energy. It has several advantages over fission. It yields more energy per given quantity of fuel. The isotopes required for fusion are far more abundant than those needed for fission. Best of all, fusion yields no radioactive waste, removing both the need for extensive disposal systems and the danger of an accidental release of radiation to the atmosphere. 

The advantages of fusion over fission could be enormous. Since deuterium constitutes about one in every 65(X) H atoms, the oceans of the world can supply an almost limitless amoimt of nuclear fuel. It is estimated that there is sufficient lithium on Earth to provide a source of tritium for about 1 million years. Also, nuclear fusion would not pose the vexing problems of radioactive waste storage and disposal associated with nuclear fission. 

Even nuclear power, both fission and one day fusion (the emulation on Earth of the Sun), depend on the skills of chemists. The construction of nuclear reactors depends on the availability of new materials, and the extraction of nuclear fuel in the form of uranium and its oxides from its ores involves chemistry. Everyone knows that one fear that holds back the development and public acceptance of nuclear energy, apart from political and economic problems, is the problem of how to dispose of the highly radioactive spent fuel. Chemists contribute by finding ways to extract useful isotopes from nuclear waste and by finding ways to ensure that it does not enter the environment and become a hazard for centuries. 

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