Integrated Experiments of Electrometallurgical Pyroprocessing Using Plutonium Oxide

Abstract

ÃÃElectrometallurgical pyroprocessing is a promising technology to realize actinide fuel cycle. Integrated experiments to demonstrate electrometallurgical pyroprocessing of PuO 2 in continuous operation were carried out. In each test, 10-20 g of PuO 2 was reacted with Li reductant to form metal product. The reduction products were charged in an anode basket of the electrorefiner with LiCl-KCl-UCl 3 electrolyte. Using the anode, deposition of uranium on the solid cathode was carried out when PuCl 3 /UCl 3 concentration ratio was low. After the Pu/U ratio in the salt electrolyte was increased enough, Pu and U were recovered simultaneously on a liquid cadmium cathode. By heating up the deposits for distillation of the salt and the cadmium, U metal or Pu-U alloyed metal was obtained as residues in the crucible. It was the first result to demonstrate the recovery of metal actinides in the continuous operation of pyroprocessing of oxide fuels.

Development of High Temperature Molten Salt Transport Technology for Pyrometallurgical Reprocessing

“…CRIEPI has been studying these processes since 1985, and has carried out joint studies with groups including Argonne National Laboratory, European Commission Joint Research Centre -The Institute for Transuranium elements, and Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The feasibility of pyrometallurgical reprocessing has been demonstrated through many laboratory-scale experiments (5)- (7) . The development of the engineering technology required for pyrometallurgical reprocessing is a key issue for its industrial realization.…”

Carbonate Reaction of Alkaline-Earth Element by Carbonate Agent Injection Method

“…[1][2][3] During pyroprocessing, amounts of waste salts (LiCl-KCl eutectic, NaCl-KCl eutectic or LiCl melts) containing chlorides of TRU and FPs (e.g., alkali, alkaline-earth, and rareearth FPs) are generated. 4,5) These fission products are highly radioactive.…”

Closed Chamber Salt Distillation System for an Enhanced Recovery of Evaporated Pure Salt

“…Similar problems regarding undesirable salt vapor depositions onto various system components, such as the crucible assembly and salt vapor transport tube between the vaporizing crucible and collecting crucibles, and the problems of equipment maintenance due to the migration of undesirably deposited salt were reported in the other previous salt distillation studies. 8,9) A new salt distillation system, a closed-chamber distillation system, is developed to substantially enhance the recovery efficiency of vaporized salt. This study describes the principle of the design and operation and the results of test operations of the lab-scale closed chamber salt distillation system.…”

“…Some problems such clogging and corrosion of system components due to the loss of corrosive salt were reported in the previous salt distillation studies. [7][8][9] Salt distillation test systems typically consist of a distiller, a vapor transport pipe, a condenser, a filter, and a vacuum controlling unit. Our previous fundamental salt distillation study also showed that this kind of distillation system had difficulty in the recovery of distilled salt.…”