A Russian-speaking reader sent me a link to this video titled “Technological breakthrough in the problem of disposal of radioactive isotopes” that was published in October of this year. The video comes from the Russian Regnum news agency, and it features representatives from a company called “Breakthrough Technologies”, and also researchers from Moscow State University.
It also includes an interview with Alla Kornilova, who wrote the book Nuclear Transmutation of Stable and Radioactive Isotopes in Biological Systems with Valdimir Vysotsky.
The video is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCXBNWuNODI
Below is a partial transcription of the video taken from the English subtitles provided. I am not familiar with the company Breakthrough Technologies that is mentioned here.
Julia Minakova “Breakthrough Technologies Commercial Director”:
Nuclear power industry is responsible for generation of electrical and thermal power by using nuclear fission reaction. Nowadays, nuclear power plants exist and operate in many countries of the world. Due to the undoubted benefits of this power industry, the mankind will never stop using it completely.
Despite overall high efficiency of nuclear power plant proved over decades all over the world, there are still problems related to the consequences of their operation.
Radioactive waste and methods of its disposal remain the cornerstone of the general problem. The purpose of this film is to tell you about the technology that will help cope with the issues that could not be resolved before.
This is the method of true efficient disposal of radioactive waste and radioactive water treatment.
Radioactive wastes undergo several stages of grading: Radioactive substances with a short half-life are managed in accordance with the established procedure. Radioactive substances with a long term half-life that cannot be managed or utilized are sent for deep burial.
Elena Zhura Breakthrough Technologies Managing Director
Fuel elements disposal and replacement is always performed by reactor manufacturers. Which means this is no concern of the country that installed the reactor. However, the country using the reactor is responsible for the treatment and disposal of reactor water used for fuel rod cooling. All countries that have nuclear power plants are concerned with the problem of cooling water treatment and disposal.
Under every nuclear reactor there is a pond for fuel element cooling. Millions of tonnes of radioactive water are stored throughout the world and there is still no efficient solution for its disposal.
The method of radioactive waste disposal we touch upon is based on nuclear transmutation technology. The new method is based on nuclear synthesis in the growing biological cultures which leads to radioactive waste disposal.
Scientists have been involved in the development of nuclear transmutation technology for more than 20 years. These studies have been performed together with the group of scientists who independently funded their own work. Further you will see the experiment that demonstrates the efficiency of this technology and possibly of its practical application.
Murygina V.P. PHD of biological science, Department of Chemical Enzymology; Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, M. Lomonosov.
The purpose of the experiment is to show quantitative transformation of Cesium into Barium using microorganisms at the temperature of 30C.
For this experiment it is necessary to prepare a culture medium. First, culture medium base has to be prepared, and then, depending on what we are going to deal with, test pattern or reference pattern (and type of control pattern), this medium shall be poured into supportive flasks from which it will be further transferred into test flasks or reference flasks 50 ml each.
Here, the flask contains all six components required. Now, I will pour the medium into the flasks, 150 mm each and then I will add the test pieces or reference pieces into the relevant flasks.
Ok, we’re done pouring out. Now, I will add Cesium into three flasks. Cesium should be added in very small quantities. Ok, this Cesium will go into this flask. In these reference flasks we add potassium phosphate to make sure the medium has full value, to ensure the development and life of the microorganisms. And we are going to use the second control flask, with a Cesium in it, to see how Cesium competes with Potassium. We have rigorously mixed the liquid in all flasks. Now we are moving it to spread into different flasks in order to set up the experiment.
Sergey Gaidamaka
Chief Engineer, Department of Chemical Enzymology; Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, M. Lomonosov.Then we add 5 ml of suspension with microorganisms into each flask with the specific mineral medium.
96 hours after the start of the experiment the metabolic by-products of bacteria cause the excessive pressure in the flasks: the nutrient medium of the reference (control) piece has turned gray and the medium of the test specimen has turned black.
We have prepared a specialized medium containing the transformation substance – Cesium, transformation catalyst-biomass and catalyst substrate – glucose. Every 48 hours observed the dynamics of glucose consumption by the biomass.
The result of the measurements showed that after 192 hours the glucose was completely consumed. So, the brightest test tube is the start of the experiment, it is 20 grams of glucose per liter. And after 192 hours – the test tube is the most transparent one – glucose is completely consumed.
This shows the completion of the active phase of biomass growth. Every 48 hours during the entire phase of biomass growth we took samples to test the dynamics of Cesium to Barium transformation. Then we unseal the flasks.
We put a tip on the automatic pipette, shake the liquid and add it into the special test tube to separate liquid from the biomass. You are lucky you are not feeling the sharp smell fo the acidogenic bacteria byproducts.
Processing the samples in a centrifuge: 3 minutes, 14,000 rpm
So we have finished separating the biomass from the liquid.
96 hours after the beginning of the experiment: analysis of the samples in the X-ray fluorescence analyzer. Test of the degree Cesium-to-Barium transformation
At this moment we’ll take the X-ray fluorescence analyzer and test the degree of Cesium to Barium transformation.
96 hours after the beginning of the experiment:
There is no Cs in the sample. Barium is discovered.
Here we should find peak Cesium level – we do not find it. This peak belongs to Barium.
Following this section at about the 8:30 mark on the video they show the use of an electron microscope, and at about the 8:55 they show the results. They highlight some results, but I am not able to read them clearly or interpret those results. Maybe some readers here can help.
