METHOD FOR RECOVERING METALLIC FUEL MATERIAL FROM SPENT FUEL AND METHOD FOR REPROCESSING SPENT FUEL

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for recovering metallic fuel materials from spent fuel which makes it possible to simplify processes for recovering metals. SOLUTION: Spent oxide nuclear fuel in a spent fuel assembly unloaded from a light water reactor is made to react with fluorine in a fluorination process 1 and is separated into a UF6gas and solid converted fluoride. UF6is purified in a UF6treatment process 7. In a fluoride molten salt electrolysis process 3, the converted fluoride is dissolved into fluoride molten salt (a mixture of LiF and BeF2) filled into an electrolytic cell of a fluoride molten salt electrolyzer. A first electrode as an anode and a second electrode as a cathode are soaked in the fluoride molten salt. A mixture of Li2O and BeO as oxides are added to the fluoride molten salt. The electrification of the first and second electrodes deposits uranium and plutonium metals contained in the fluoride molten salt on the second electrode is separated. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT