U.S. Department of Energy researchers have developed a breakthrough radiochemical separation process at Savannah River National Laboratory to recover rare isotopes from Cold War-era Mark-18A targets. The process enables recycling of plutonium-244 and curium, elements previously considered permanent nuclear waste. This recovery effort represents a significant advancement in nuclear science and resource conservation.

These Cold War-era materials contain the global supply of unseparated plutonium-244, essential for nuclear forensics applications. The recovered curium can be converted into californium-252, which is used to start up nuclear reactors. By recycling these isotopes, the process reduces the need to mine finite resources like uranium while addressing environmental concerns associated with radioactive waste storage.

Edwin Deshong, an Office Operations Manager at the Savannah River site, called the process a strategic advancement for both nuclear science and environmental protection. The technology transforms historical waste materials into valuable resources, strengthening the circular waste cycle and reducing environmental risks from potential waste leaks. As recycling technology advances, the process is becoming cheaper, easier, and safer, offering a sustainable solution for managing radioactive materials.