Waste to resource: a review of critical raw materials recovery from spent nuclear fuel

This work explores the potential of fission products from spent nuclear fuel as an alternative source of critical raw materials. The demand for critical raw materials is increasing due to their importance in key technologies for the clean industry and digital transitions, leading to supply chain vulnerabilities. Fission products, generated in nuclear power plants across the European Union, are a diverse and underutilized resource. Fission products are compared with documents dealing with the European Union’s Critical Raw Material Act and radiopharmaceuticals. Spent nuclear fuel components are found in applications that deliver the European Union Clean Industrial Deal and can tackle the vulnerabilities in the supply chain of radiopharmaceuticals within the European Union. A spent nuclear fuel forecast revealed their importance as a source of raw materials, radiopharmaceuticals, nuclear gauges and radioisotope thermoelectric generators. The work at hand shows that utilizing these resources could help address vulnerabilities in the supply chain for a range of critical applications and contribute to the goals of the European Union’s Clean Industrial Deal. Despite the potential benefits, the practical exploitation of such resources would require overcoming several legislative, regulatory and technological barriers, to be carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis.