Recoverable neutron absorbers

摘要

In the reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuel elements the nuclear fuel material is separated from the material which forms the remainder of the elements by dissolving the nuclear fuel material in nitric acid. Neutron absorbers are added to control criticality. The neutron absorbers comprise pellets each having a core of neutron absorbing material encased in a sheath of a material which is resistant to attack by acid, the core or sheath being magnetic. The sheath protects the core of neutron absorbing material from attack by the acid and the magnetic content of the core or sheath enables the absorbers to be recovered for reuse by magnetic separation techniques.