PROCESS FOR SEPARATING METALS

摘要

The invention relates to an electrorefining apparatus and process, the apparatus being capable of operating in continuous mode, and including means for criticality control, preferably geometric criticality control. The means for geometric criticality control preferably comprises means for control of the dimensions of the apparatus and, typically, the invention provides electrochemical cells having a large surface area per unit volume, preferably in the form of thin, flat plates. Preferred embodiments of the invention include cells which comprise a crusting liquid cathode, a cast cathode, a fluidised cell or pulsed bed, a moving belt cathode, a consolidating cathode, or a liquid anode and a plate cathode. The process comprises a continuous process for the isolation of metals, typically uranium, from spent nuclear fuels, the process comprising electrochemically treating the spent nuclear fuels in the apparatus of the invention.