A liquid reactant metal alloy includes at least one chemically active metal for
reacting with non-radioactive material in a mixed waste stream being treated. The
reactant alloy also includes at least one radiation absorbing metal. Radioactive
isotopes in the waste stream alloy with, or disperse in, the chemically active
and radiation absorbing metals such that the radiation absorbing metals are able
to absorb a significant portion of the radioactive emissions associated with the
isotopes. Non-radioactive constituents in the waste material are broken down into
harmless and useful constituents, leaving the alloyed radioactive isotopes in the
liquid reactant alloy. The reactant alloy may then be cooled to form one or more
ingots in which the radioactive isotopes are effectively isolated and surrounded
by the radiation absorbing metals. These ingots comprise the storage products for
the radioactive isotopes. The ingots may be encapsulated in one or more layers
of radiation absorbing material and then stored.