Dissolution process for ZrO.sub.2 -UO.sub.2 -CaO fuels

摘要

The present invention provides an improved dissolution process for ZrO. sub.2 -UO.sub.2 -CaO-type pressurized water reactor fuels. The zirconium cladding is dissolved with hydrofluoric acid, immersing the ZrO. sub.2 -UO. sub.2 -CaO fuel wafers in the resulting zirconium-dissolver- product in the dissolver vessel, and nitric acid is added to the dissolver vessel to facilitate dissolution of the uranium from the ZrO. sub.2 -UO.sub.2 -CaO fuel wafers.