Is transmutation the feasible option to finally close the gap in the nuclear fuel cycle?

In general, transmutation technology applied after chemical extraction of the relevant radioactive elements offers the possibility of easing the problem of long-term ultimate waste disposal. The technical barriers, i.e. waste product container and matrix (glass), guarantee that there will be no release of radionuclides into the biosphere for at least 1 000 years. For subsequent periods, protection can be ensured by keeping the potential hazards resulting from the composition of wastes sufficiently low by separating significant elements and transforming their nuclei into short-lived or even stable nuclides. The prerequisite for separating the relevant elements is reprocessing of the spent fuel elements. (orig./DG)