reprocessing

English

Verb

reprocessing

1. present participle of reprocess

Noun

reprocessing (plural reprocessings)

1. A second or subsequent processing.
   1. (engineering, nuclear physics) The process of extracting useful or valuable materials from used nuclear fuel, mainly focusing on the recovery of fissile and fertile material (primarily uranium and plutonium, and sometimes thorium as well) for use in fresh nuclear reactor fuel, or, in some cases, the manufacture of nuclear weapons (although recovery of precious metals produced by nuclear fission has also been studied).

      Nuclear reprocessing is a highly-controversial issue; proponents point to the massive reduction in the amount of radioactive waste requiring secure disposal, the utilisation of the remaining uranium and plutonium in the used fuel rods which would otherwise go to waste, and the opportunity to recover valuable fission byproducts such as platinum-group metals and silver, while opponents of reprocessing argue that it delays the switch away from nuclear power and results in massive toxic and radioactive contamination of the reprocessing sites, and that the separation of useable fissile material presents an unjustifiable proliferation risk.