Method for increasing the lifetime of an extraction medium used for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel and/or breeder materials

摘要

A method is provided for increasing the lifetime of an extraction medium containing an organophosphorus acid ester and a hydrocarbon and being used for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel and/or breeder materials. Impurities resulting from chemical and/or radiolytic decomposition and interfering compounds of such impurities with radionuclides are removed from the extraction medium by bringing the extraction medium, after use, into intimate contact with an aqueous hydrazine hydrate solution having a concentration of between about 0.1 molar and about 1.0 molar at a temperature between about 20 C to about 75 C. The aqueous hydrazine hydrate solution is then separated from the extraction medium.