Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems Knowledge Base
Conference Article: Overview of the French program in chemical separation and transmutation of minor actinides and long lived fission products
Baudin, G.; Lefevre, J. (CEA Centre d'Etudes de Saclay, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France)); Prunier, C.; Salvatores, M. (CEA Centre d'Etudes de Cadarache, 13 - Saint-Paul-lez-Durance (France))Abstract
The separation of long-lived elements and their transmutation is one of the goals stated in the December 30, 1991 law. With this in mind, the CEA has set up the SPIN program (Separation - Incineration). The separation of actinides through diamides is considered. The basic studies have resulted in the choice of dimethyl dibutyl tetradecyl methyl amide (DMDBTDMA) and in the development of the AMIDEX process. Macrocycles are contemplated to separate the other long-lived fission products. The separated actinides will be transmuted from homogeneous fuels or heterogeneous targets in PWR or FR reactors. Data show that, compared to current reprocessing, a transmutation in FR is likely to reduce the radiotoxicity by a factor of about 30, with a set of FBRs representing 20 or 30% of all the reactors depending on whether recycling is of the homogeneous or heterogeneous type. The Superfact experiment has shown good behaviour of the actinide-loaded targets. Transmutation of the fission products could be obtained by means of targets placed in an outer area of the FR core with thermalized neutrons. Special attention is devoted to the use of accelerators.
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key words: Fast Neutron Spectrum Systems, Nuclear Technology
- Reference:
- Safety and environmental aspects of partitioning and transmutation of actinides and fission products. Proceedings of a technical committee meeting, Vienna, 29 November - 2 December 1993
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
- IAEA-TECDOC--783, pp:37-51
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)