Research and development on partitioning in JAERI; Review of the research activities until the development of 4-group partitioning process

Morita, Yasuji  ; Kubota, Masumitsu*

Research and development on Partitioning in JAERI are reviewed in the present report from the beginning to the development of the 4-Group Partitioning Process and its test with real high-level liquid waste (HLLW). In the 3-Group Partitioning Process established in around 1980, elements in HLLW are separated into 3 groups of transuranium element group, Sr-Cs group and the other element group. The 4-Group Partitioning Process subsequently developed contains the separation of Tc-platinum group metals additionally. The process was tested to demonstrate its performance with real concentrated HLLW. Until then, various separation methods for various elements were studied and selection and optimization of the separation methods were carried out to establish the process. Review of the experience, findings and results is very important and valuable for future study on partitioning. The present report is prepared from this point of view.