Process for recycling irradiated fuel

摘要

A simple proliferation resistant process for recycling irradiated fuel. The entire irradiated fuel matrix is dissolved in a strong acid reagent and the fissile and fertile elements of interest along with a portion of the highly radioactive fission products are precipitated out of solution by raising the pH. By proper selection of the pH, the neutron absorbing rare earth elements do not precipitate with the fissile/fertile elements and the highly radioactive fission products and instead remain in solution. The presence of a significant portion of the fission products in the fissile/fertile mixture renders it highly radioactive and inaccessible without the use of shielded facilities or specialized handling equipment. The irradiated fuel from which the proliferation resistant fuel of the present invention can be recycled is preferably derived from a LWR or a reactor using thorium as a fertile fuel element. The proliferation resistant recycled fuel in accordance with the present invention is preferably recovered for use in a CANDU3 type reactor.