Disposal technologies for radioactive metal waste from nuclear power plants: A review

The accelerating global decommissioning of nuclear power plants has led to a rapid increase in radioactive metallic waste, presenting significant technical, environmental, and economic challenges. This review systematically examines the state-of-the-art technologies for the treatment of radioactive metals generated during operation, maintenance, and dismantling of nuclear facilities, with a focus on three core processes: decontamination, cutting, and recycling. Decontamination technologies are categorized into physical, chemical, and physicochemical methods, each differing in mechanisms, efficiency, secondary waste production, and material compatibility. Cutting technologies are essential for segmentation and volume reduction, with recent advancements emphasizing automation, remote operation, and improved precision under the as low as reasonably achievable principle. The review further evaluates the technical feasibility and practical experience of recycling and reusing decontaminated metals, highlighting international case studies that demonstrate substantial benefits in cost reduction, resource recovery, and waste minimization. The findings indicate that sustainable management of radioactive metallic waste requires integrating green decontamination processes, high-precision cutting systems, robust regulatory frameworks, and strengthened public communication. These synergistic efforts are critical to balancing environmental protection and circular economy goals in the nuclear industry.