PROCESS FOR DESTRUCTION OF NUCLEAR WASTE, RECYCLING OF NUCLEAR FUEL AND SEPARATION OF ISOTOPES

摘要

This invention provides a process for destruction of nuclear waste, recyclingof nuclearfuel and separation of isotopes. The destruction will be achieved in theliquid phase of nitrate orsulfate salts, in a specially designed, critical, self-sustaining nuclearreactor. The high rate ofdestruction of the nuclear waste will be achieved by continuously maintainingthe concentrationsof the transuranic isotopes far away from the equilibrium concentrations, andas high astechnically possible. This will be achieved by using a separation unit forremoving the FissionProducts, where the separation unit will be integrated with the reactor.Preferably, the startingmaterial (the burned-up nuclear fuel) will be pre-processed to remove theuranium isotopes; thiswill increase the processing capacity. The separation unit will also besuitable for isotopeenrichment. The capacity of a single installation will be about 20 tons ofburned-up nuclear fuelper year.