Nuclear reactor anti-pollution method

Argentina has used a laser to remove contaminated elements of "heavy water," which help cool and combat pollution at nuclear reactors.

Scientists at the Defense Science and Technology Research Institute (CITEDEF) and Argentina's High Tech Company (INVAP) have successfully developed a new method with laser to reduce the contamination of water. heavy " (D ₂ O), which has the effect of cooling and preventing pollution at nuclear reactors.

INVAP and CITEDEF have developed laser technology to remove Tritiumum radioactive elements, Hydrogene's radioactive isotopes, generated during the conversion of D ₂ O to refrigerate CANDU nuclear reactors (Canada). Deuterium Uranium). The technology is at this stage of the experiment, unlike the methods that Canada and the United Kingdom are using to decontaminate, allowing reuse of D ₂ O.

The difference between "heavy water" and water is that the Hydrogene atoms are replaced by Deuterium. D ₂ O acts as a regulator in reactors, allowing control of nuclear reactions by slowing down the release of neutrons in the chemical reaction.

Deuterium is the isotope of Hydrogene. The nucleus of a normal hydrogene is constituted by a proton. However, two natural isotopes of Hydrogene are Deuterium and Tritium. In addition to containing a proton, Deuterium also contains one neutron.

For the Tritium part, it is a non-stable and radioactive substance, which contains a proton and two neutrons. Deuterium accounts for 0.02% of Hydrogene. Deuterium atoms can combine with oxygen to produce "heavy water" which is about 11% greater than normal water.

Radioactive contamination by Tritiumum can be resolved in two ways, including burying contaminated Tritium (contained in appropriate containers) deep underground for long periods of time to reduce radioactivity, or transfer to Canada. , the only water that allows "Tritium removal" by conventional means is likely to harm the environment.