Dry chemical reprocessing method and dry chemical reprocessing apparatus for spent nuclear fuel

摘要

In a dry chemical reprocessing method, uranium type elements are electrolytically refined continuously. Molten cadmium in which these uranium type elements are dissolved is transferred to a rotating cathode electrolysis tank 30 for performing electrolytic refining. The rotating cathode electrolysis tank 30 is filled with molten cadmium, and a mixture of potassium chloride and lithium chloride. In the salt phase are placed a rotating cathode 32 and a receiving dish 36 for uranium type elements which deposit at the cathode, while in the molten cadmium phase a fixed anode 42 is installed. When uranium type elements deposited at the rotating cathode 32 have grown to at least a predetermined size, they are scraped off by a scraper 34 and collect in a receiving dish 36. These uranium type elements are sent to a U/salt separating tank 50 where uranium is separated from salts. The separated uranium and molten cadmium are aspirated by a pump 59, and sent to a Cd distiller 60 via a pipe 58a where the uranium type elements are recovered as their oxides and the cadmium is distilled off and recovered.