TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ojovan, Michael I.
A1  - Steinmetz, Hans-Jürgen
T1  - Approaches to Disposal of Nuclear Waste
JF  - Energies
N2  - We present a concise mini overview on the approaches to the disposal of nuclear waste currently used or deployed. The disposal of nuclear waste is the end point of nuclear waste management (NWM) activities and is the emplacement of waste in an appropriate facility without the intention to retrieve it. The IAEA has developed an internationally accepted classification scheme based on the end points of NWM, which is used as guidance. Retention times needed for safe isolation of waste radionuclides are estimated based on the radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. Disposal facilities usually rely on a multi-barrier defence system to isolate the waste from the biosphere, which comprises the natural geological barrier and the engineered barrier system. Disposal facilities could be of a trench type, vaults, tunnels, shafts, boreholes, or mined repositories. A graded approach relates the depth of the disposal facilities’ location with the level of hazard. Disposal practices demonstrate the reliability of nuclear waste disposal with minimal expected impacts on the environment and humans.
KW  - borehole disposal
KW  - geological disposal
KW  - disposal facility
KW  - retention time
KW  - nuclear waste
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en15207804
SN  - 1996-1073
N1  - This article belongs to the Special Issue "Treatment of Radioactive Waste and Sustainability Energy"
VL  - 15
IS  - 20
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  -