Separation apparatus for high-level nuclear waste

A method of use for a separation apparatus that includes a housing having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a separation chamber defined between the inlet and outlet ends, a first inductively-coupled plasma torch assembly being mounted to the housing and having an injection channel in fluid communication with the separation chamber, a second inductively-coupled plasma torch assembly that is disposed around a first section of the housing, first and second magnetic elements that are disposed around second and third sections of the housing, and a plurality of concentric electrodes that are mounted within the outlet end of the housing, the method comprising:

• providing a supply of the plasma-forming gas along the injection channel;
• ionizing the supply of the plasma-forming gas within the injection channel and within the separation chamber for generating a plasma discharge therewithin;
• providing a liquid supply of high-level nuclear waste along the injection channel, together with the supply of the plasma-forming gas;
• and
• generating a magnetic field that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the separation chamber and an electric field that is perpendicular to the magnetic field such that the supply of high-level nuclear waste is separated into a high-mass portion of the supply of high-level nuclear waste and a low-mass portion of the supply of high-level nuclear waste;
• wherein an inner surface of at least one of the first, second and third sections of the housing includes at least one first outlet aperture;
• wherein one of the plurality of concentric electrodes defines a second outlet aperture;
• and
• wherein the supply of high-level nuclear waste is separated such that the high-mass portion of the supply of high-level nuclear waste is ejected radially outwards towards the at least one first outlet aperture and the low-mass portion of the liquid supply high-level nuclear waste is directed along the separation chamber, towards the second outlet aperture.