Reduction-oxidation of actinides extraction process (ROANEX) for used nuclear fuel recycling
Abstract
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.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1568376
- Patent Number(s):
- 10297355
- Application Number:
- 15/378,191
- Assignee:
- U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
C - CHEMISTRY C22 - METALLURGY C22B - PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 12/14/2016
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Riddle, Catherine Lynn, and Paviet, Patricia D. Reduction-oxidation of actinides extraction process (ROANEX) for used nuclear fuel recycling. United States: N. p., 2019.
Web.
Riddle, Catherine Lynn, & Paviet, Patricia D. Reduction-oxidation of actinides extraction process (ROANEX) for used nuclear fuel recycling. United States.
Riddle, Catherine Lynn, and Paviet, Patricia D. Tue .
"Reduction-oxidation of actinides extraction process (ROANEX) for used nuclear fuel recycling". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1568376.
@article{osti_1568376,
title = {Reduction-oxidation of actinides extraction process (ROANEX) for used nuclear fuel recycling},
author = {Riddle, Catherine Lynn and Paviet, Patricia D.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2019},
month = {5}
}
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