Challenges for Actinide Separations in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycles

摘要

During more than five decades of deployment, a great deal of both scientific and engineering insight has been gained into the application of solvent extraction to the challenge of processing spent nuclear fuel. Though no chemical separation process is without limitations, the ability to employ continuous operations, to tune process efficiency and to take advantage of more than 50 years of industrial-scale experience all argue for the continuation of solvent extraction-based processing of nuclear fuels into the 21st Century. A great deal of research is underway globally to support new options for advanced aqueous separations. With the integration of sound waste management practices into spent fuel processing, solvent extraction can still be a workhorse for the operation of advanced nuclear fuel cycles. In this presentation, selected features of the current state of the actinide separations art will be discussed emphasizing options and prospects for the future.