Reduction-oxidation of actinides extraction process (ROANEX) for used nuclear fuel recycling
The invention relates to the ROANEX method, which extracts actinides from used nuclear fuel in a single purification cycle. The used nuclear fuel contains actinides, U, Am, Pu, Np. and Cm, and fission products, Cs, Sr and Tc. The fission products are separated first from the used nuclear fuel. The actinides are reduced to their lowest oxidation states and then oxidized to their highest oxidations states. Uranium, Pu and Np move to an organic phase solution and Am and Cm move to a nitrate solution. Uranium, Pu, and Np are stripped from the organic phase solution, and then treated with an oxalic acid to form a precipitate. Americium and Cm are treated with a potassium carbonate solution and Am precipitates. Actinides Am, U, Pu, and Np precipitates are heated in an oven and then blended together to form a mixed oxide fuel of UO2, PuO2, NpO2 and AmO2.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- Assignee:
- U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- 10,297,355
- Application Number:
- 15/378,191
- OSTI ID:
- 1568376
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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