Nuclear energy holds immense potential to meet growing energy demands, and researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are working on a breakthrough technology that could revolutionize the recycling of nuclear fuel and other valuable materials. 

Their research focuses on a smaller, more localized approach to recovering uranium, transuranic elements, and rare earth metals—an innovation that could benefit both the nuclear industry and U.S. manufacturing.

By applying their method to materials that would otherwise be discarded—such as mining waste, coal fly ash, and electronic waste—scientists hope to maximize resource extraction while minimizing environmental impact. This versatile system could reduce reliance on foreign sources for nuclear fuel and critical metals, boosting domestic energy and manufacturing capabilities.

Read more in Interesting Engineering here.

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