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| keeban |
 Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:30 pm Post subject: Bacteria cleaning up nuclear power plant waste? |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 5
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| Has anyone checked into developing a highly radioactive strain of bacteria like the radiodurans strain into being able to oxidize, process, etc nuclear power plant waste into a inert substance so we could use nuclear power plants to provide our energy needs? |
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| Harold14370 |
| Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 4:40 am Post subject: |
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Forum Professor
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1263
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Radioactive decay occurs in the nucleus, so it is not affected by oxidation or any chemical process. We do, in fact, use nuclear power plants to supply our energy needs. |
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| keeban |
| Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Freshman
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 5
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| so theirs no way to speed up the decay of radioactive waste, or to process it into a relatively safe form? |
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| Harold14370 |
| Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Forum Professor
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1263
Location: Pennsylvania
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| It can be processed into a form that will not leach into the water supply. It is called vitrification. But it will have to be buried and kept in a safe place while it decays off. |
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