Which of the following is a potential benefit of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel?

Reprocessing spent nuclear fuel presents several benefits, with the recovery of uranium and plutonium for reuse being quite significant. When nuclear fuel is used in a reactor, it undergoes fission, which generates energy but also results in a variety of radioactive byproducts, including fission products and actinides. By reprocessing, it becomes possible to chemically separate unspent uranium and plutonium from the waste products. These materials can be recycled and used to fabricate new nuclear fuel.

This process not only helps to conserve precious nuclear resources but also addresses some of the waste management issues associated with spent fuel. By retrieving these reusable materials, reprocessing can reduce the amount of waste that needs to be stored and managed over the long term. Additionally, utilizing recovered uranium and plutonium represents a more sustainable approach, allowing for the efficient use of resources in the nuclear fuel cycle.

In contrast, the other options do not provide benefits associated with reprocessing. For instance, reprocessing does not increase the volume of nuclear waste; rather, it aims to reduce and manage it more effectively. It also does not produce more fission products but rather separates useful materials from the waste. Lastly, while reprocessing helps in managing nuclear fuel more effectively, it does not eliminate the