India creates medical supplies from nuclear waste

Scientists in India are using materials recovered from radioactive waste to protect babies and vulnerable patients from adverse reactions to blood transfusion. A production line at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Trombay creates medical products based on caesium-137 instead of the usual cobalt-60, with a range of benefits.

Researchers at BARC made a breakthrough by creating a solid form of caesium-137 with the benefits of long life, reduced handling and no risk of dispersal. They did this by developing an ion exchange and solvent extraction process for caesium-137 present in the stream of reprocessed used fuel from India's nuclear power plants, with the extra benefit of reducing the heat generation and radio-toxicity of the waste and thereby making its long-term storage easier. The caesium-137 is mixed with molten glass in a process called vitrification and poured directly into metal 'pencils' only 23 mm wide and 204 mm in length before the lid is seal-welded.

This was demonstrated in March 2010 and after many trials a plant-scale production facility has been installed at the Waste Immobilization Plant at BARC's Trombay home. Its first batch of ten pencils was delivered in June 2015.

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Source: World Nuclear News