Process for the dissolution of plutonium dioxide with OH'radicals obtained by the radiolysis of water, usable for treating plutonium containing slimes and wastes.

摘要

Process for dissolving plutonium dioxide by means of OH<.> radicals produced by radiolysis of water, usable for the processing of dissolving fines and of plutonium-bearing waste. To this end, solid products containing PuO2 originating from the hopper (5) are brought, in a reactor (1), into contact with a nitric aqueous solution (3) irradiated with radiations or with charged particles to produce OH<.> radicals by radiolysis of this solution, in the presence of a reactant such as N2O, capable of trapping the solvated electrons and the H<.> radicals which are produced simultaneously, and optionally of a redox mediator such as silver. The irradiation may be carried out using an alpha or beta emitter present in the solution or using an external source such as an irradiator or an electron accelerator.