Researchers from the Reactor Physics Division and the TRIGA reactor of the Jožef Stefan Institute, together with researchers from Lancaster University and Aston University in the United Kingdom, experimentally demonstrated that ionising radiation from nuclear power plants and spent nuclear fuel can be used to convert waste chemicals into useful products. The results were presented in the article Nuclear-driven production of renewable fuel additives from waste organics, published in Nature Communications Chemistry.
The researchers converted glycerol, a waste product from biofuel production, into solketal, which can be used as a biofuel additive and thereby help reduce fuel consumption. They calculated that, using this approach, up to 10,000 tonnes of solketal could be produced annually across the EU. The research results represent an important contribution to sustainable development and also show that nuclear infrastructure such as the TRIGA reactor can contribute to the development of the circular economy and low-carbon technologies.