DISSOLUTION OF PUO.SUB.2 OR NPO.SUB.2 USING ELECTROLYTICALLY REGENERATED REAGENTS

摘要

The invention is concerned with a process for electrolytically oxidatively dissolving irradiated reactor fuel containing plutonium in an aqueous nitric acid medium substantially free of hydrogen fluoride and without the addition of a catalyst. The process of the invention comprises placing the fuel in an electrolytic cell containing an anode and a cathode, and impressing a potential upon the cell for a period of time sufficient to dissolve substantially all of the fuel. Irradiated fuel includes materials in the fission and nuclear reaction products that can function as regenerable reagents, such as compounds of Ce, Ag, Co and Am. The simultaneous dissolution and electrolytic oxidation according to the invention has the advantage of maintaining the regenerable reagent at its highest valence level.