Patent · US Active

Method for treating spent nuclear fuel

US8394346B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
4References
36Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJun 29, 2010
Grant dateMar 12, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 29, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W30/50
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method for treating spent nuclear fuel, which includes first decontaminating the uranium, plutonium and neptunium found in a nitric aqueous phase resulting from dissolving the nuclear fuel in HNO3. The uranium, plutonium and neptunium found in the solvent phase is then split in a first aqueous phase and a second aqueous phase. Next, the first aqueous phase is stored. Following, the plutonium or other mixtures found in the first aqueous phase is purified relative to the fission products still found in said phase, in order to obtain, at the end of said purification, an aqueous solution containing a mixture of Pu and U or Pu, U and Np. Finally the resulting mixture of Pu and U or the mixture of Pu, U and Np is co-converted into a mixed oxide.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.