NUCLEAR FUEL REPROCESSING

摘要

There is described a method for treating or reprocessing spent nuclear fuel in which an organic phase is contacted with an aqueous nitric acid phase containing zirconium, technetium and at least one extractable actinide metal such that the at least one extractable metal is extracted into the organic phase characterised in that the zirconium and technetium predominantly remain in the aqueous phase. There is also described a Purex reprocessing plant, and the use of such a plant in simultaneously separating both zirconium and technetium along with other fission products from uranium and plutonium.