Chemists have found a new use for nuclear waste

Scientists have moved to use nuclear waste in catalysts to create valuable chemicals and fuels.

A byproduct of the nuclear work processThe reactor is depleted uranium. These wastes are not disposed of, but since they are hazardous to health, they are usually stored in special isolated rooms or used for the production of armor-piercing missiles.

Recently, a team of chemists from the University of Sussex discovered that depleted uranium may have other beneficial uses.

During the study theycreated a catalyst containing nuclear waste, withwith which scientists were able to convert ethylene into ethane. Working with colleagues from the University of Toulouse and Humboldt University of Berlin, the scientists found that an organometallic molecule based on depleted uranium promotes the addition of hydrogen atoms to the carbon double bond in ethylene to create ethane.

The conversion of alkenes to alkanes is importantchemical reaction, because it allows you to get valuable substances from simple substances, such as hydrogenated oils and petrochemical products, which can be used as an energy source.

Let us recall that recently chemists also found a cheaper way to produce hydrogen.

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