Currently, our efforts are focused on two main objectives: on the one hand, to contribute to scientific knowledge about the stability of high level radioactive waste under storage conditions after its operation in a nuclear reactor; and on the other hand, to contribute to the development of advanced nuclear fuel cycles, the objective of which, in addition to optimizing natural resources, is to minimize the volume of waste generated and its long-term impact. These two fundamental objectives are supported by a third aim that allows us to develop and innovate in new manufacturing processes for materials with three purposes: obtaining physico-chemical analogues of irradiated fuel; developing high-burnup fuels; and obtaining inert matrices.
Specifically, the R&D activities carried out at the URRAA are framed within three lines of research:
- Short- and long-term evolution of high-level radioactive waste under different storage conditions,
- Development of separation processes of radionuclides applied to advanced fuel cycles, and
- Fabrication and conversion of nuclear fuel.