Research Outline
Based on complex and solution chemistry of uranium, actinide elements, and various related elements, Takao Laboratory aims to properly treat and dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste (so-called "nuclear waste") minas well as to convert them into resources. For example, we believe that reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and realization of the nuclear fuel cycle are important to meet the world's ever-increasing energy demand in the future. Based on the phenomena that ligands designed minbased on complex chemistry selectively and efficiently precipitate nuclear fuel materials from aqueous nitric acid solutions, we are developing a simple and highly general-purpose next-generation reprocessing technology platform for spent nuclear fuel. In addition, the development of technology for adsorption and recovery of uranium dissolved in seawater as a future nuclear fuel resource option is attracting worldwide attention. Based on the complex chemistry and characteristics of uranium in aqueous solution, Takao laboratory is designing minligands that specifically coordinate to uranium, synthesizing and characterizing uranyl complexes, demonstrating complexation under simulated seawater conditions, and developing resin-based adsorbents with ligand moieties.
