Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Work on partitioning of long-lived radionuclides in the Russian Federation

Abstract

The results of research on HLW partitioning performed in Russia are presented. To substantiate the feasibility of HLW partitioning process, the basis of concept on management of long-lived radionuclides are considered. This concept envisages the separation of HLW into individual fractions, which will make it possible in the future to implement, along with geological disposal, the transmutation process as a radical method for management of the most hazardous nuclides. Such approach requires radio ecological substantiation for recovery degree of radionuclides to be transmuted on the basis of the only criterion, i.e. reasonable risk with allowance for natural and artificial barriers to confine radionuclides within a rock massif block. The report summarizes the data on the Russian studies of partitioning of long-lived radionuclides. It includes the description of modified Purex-process which enables to localize Np, Tc and Zr in I extraction cycle. As to reprocessing of high-level raffinate of I cycle, the achieved indices on recovery of Cs, Sr, U, Np, Pu, TPE and RE are under consideration with the use of chlorinated cobalt dicarbollyde, phosphine oxides, crown-ethers, bidentate extractants and ferrocyanide sorbents. It is shown that the testing of some efficient processes for separation of long-lived radionuclides has progressed in Russia to a pilot industrial scale. Further efforts of investigators and technologists are aimed at higher recovery degree of HLW components.

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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:171-176