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Transforming Nuclear Waste: The EU’s MaLaR Project Takes Aim at Recycling Rare Earths

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Highlights

  • Researchers aim to extract valuable lanthanides from nuclear waste using advanced carbon-based materials like graphene oxides.
  • The €2.3 million EU-funded project involves scientists from Germany, France, Sweden, and Romania to develop innovative waste separation technologies.
  • The project could revolutionize nuclear waste management by creating a sustainable method to recover critical raw materials from radioactive waste.

Nuclear waste has long been considered a burden—a dangerous byproduct demanding safe, permanent storage. But what if some of this waste could be transformed into valuable resources? According to a January 13 press release (opens in a new tab), The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), a leading German research center, is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative to make this vision a reality. Under the leadership of Prof. Kristina Kvashnina, the newly launched MaLaR Project (Novel 2D-3D Materials for Lanthanide Recovery) aims to develop innovative methods for extracting rare elements, known as lanthanides, from nuclear waste. With €2.3 million in EU funding secured through the EURATOM program, the project brings together researchers from Germany, France, Sweden, and Romania. Their goal is nothing short of transformative: turning nuclear waste into a sustainable source of critical raw materials.

The value of lanthanides

Lanthanides, a group of rare earth elements, are vital to modern technology. They’re key components in everything from smartphone screens and batteries to medical imaging equipment and high-performance magnets. Despite their importance, lanthanides are scarce, with much of the global supply concentrated in China. This reliance on a single source has spurred efforts to find alternative supplies, even from unconventional sources like nuclear waste.

“Lanthanides are too valuable to waste,” explains Prof. Kvashnina, who is also a professor at Université Grenoble Alpes in France. “Recycling them, even from nuclear waste, represents an exciting opportunity to address resource scarcity while tackling an environmental challenge.”

A new approach to separation

Recycling nuclear waste is a challenging task. The challenge is separating its components, many of which share similar chemical properties. Traditional separation methods often require hazardous chemicals and energy-intensive processes, which leads to further waste production.

The MaLaR team is exploring a novel solution: advanced carbon-based materials, such as graphene oxides, which could act as highly selective “scavengers” for specific elements. These materials have already shown promise, outperforming current industrial sorbents used for radioactive elements. By fine-tuning the electronic structure of these materials, the researchers aim to maximize their ability to isolate lanthanides efficiently and sustainably.

Applications and impact

Although the project’s initial focus is on synthetic mixtures, the long-term vision is ambitious. “In three years, we’ll take the first steps, but the potential applications are vast,” says Kvashnina. The MaLaR technology could revolutionize not only nuclear waste management but also industrial processes, such as those in radio-medicine. Moreover, the project could improve the final storage of radioactive materials. By separating isotopes with varying lifetimes, waste could be stored more safely and effectively.

Collaboration and innovation

The MaLaR consortium combines expertise in material science, physics, and chemistry. Key partners include the University of Montpellier and CNRS in France, Umeå and Uppsala Universities in Sweden, and the University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest in Romania. At HZDR, research will primarily take place at a state-of-the-art alpha laboratory in Dresden-Rossendorf and the Rossendorf Beamline (ROBL) at the European Synchrotron in Grenoble.

Prof. Kvashnina, who will oversee experiments at ROBL, emphasizes the project’s interdisciplinary nature: “This is a fantastic team effort. By integrating experimental results with theoretical models, we’re creating a solid foundation for next-generation separation technologies.”

The Research Organization

According to its website (opens in a new tab), HZDR is a leader in energy, health, and materials research. With a focus on tackling today’s most pressing challenges, HZDR is dedicated to advancing knowledge and technology for future generations. Its cutting-edge facilities and expertise enable groundbreaking discoveries that contribute to a sustainable and equitable society.

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