Storage of nuclear materials by encapsulation in fullerenes

• US 5,350,569 A
• Filed: 03/30/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Department of Energy (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Department of Energy (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Coppa, Nicholas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOSS, FREDERICK
• Application Number:
  US08/039,668
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 423/251, 423/250, 423/252, 423/445 B, 252/628, 252/626, 252/629, 252/635
• US Class Current: 423/251
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/15 Nano-sized carbon materials
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/152 Fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/00 Treating radioactively contaminated material; Decontamination arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/736 having atoms interior to the carbon cage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/903 for conversion, containment, or destruction of hazardous material

Abstract

A method of encapsulating radioactive materials inside fullerenes for stable long-term storage. Fullerenes provide a safe and efficient means of disposing of nuclear waste which is extremely stable with respect to the environment. After encapsulation, a radioactive ion is essentially chemically isolated from its external environment.

Claims

1. A waste product comprising:

radioactive material encapsulated inside a fullerene molecule.

2. The waste product as described in claim 1, wherein said fullerene comprises the C₆₀ molecule.

3. The waste product as described in claim 1, wherein said radioactive material originates in metallic, oxide, or halide form.

4. The waste product as described in claim 1, wherein said radioactive material comprises plutonium.

5. The waste product as described in claim 1, wherein said radioactive material is selected from a group consisting of:

all transuranic, strontium, technetium, and thorium wastes.