Recent progress on R&D of separation process for minor actinides using new extractants

新規抽出剤を用いたマイナーアクチノイド分離プロセスに関する研究開発の現状

松村 達郎  ; 伴 康俊  ; 宝徳 忍 ; 鈴木 英哉; 津幡 靖宏   ; 筒井 菜緒  ; 鈴木 明日香

Matsumura, Tatsuro; Ban, Yasutoshi; Hotoku, Shinobu; Suzuki, Hideya; Tsubata, Yasuhiro; Tsutsui, Nao; Suzuki, Asuka

To continue the utilization of the nuclear fission energy, the management of the high-level radioactive waste is one of the most important issues to be solved. Partitioning and Transmutation technology of HLW is expected to be effective to mitigate the burden of the HLW disposal by reducing the radiological toxicity and heat generation. The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has been conducting the research and development on accelerator-driven subcritical system (ADS) as a dedicated system for the transmutation of long-lived radioactive nuclides. This paper overviews the recent progress and future R&D plan of the study on the ADS and related fuel cycle technology in JAEA. The new minor actinide (MA) separation process using innovative extractants in accord with CHON principle has been developed in JAEA for the P&T technology of HLW which is expected to be effective to mitigate the burden of the HLW disposal by reducing the radiological toxicity and heat generation. The new nonorganophosphorus extractants which have appropriate extraction behaviors for each separation steps were developed. Continuous counter-current experiments of each solvent extraction process with tracers of MA were carried out using mixer-settler extractors. The experimental results showed that the separation performance of the solvent extraction processes were demonstrated successfully.