Pyroreprocessing development for next generation energy; Reducing high-level radioactive waste volume

Amamoto, Ippei

The pyroprocess as a non-aqueous reprocessing, is oriented as a complementary concept for the Fact Project. The pyroprocess possesses some inherent problems that have yet to be solved. The purification and recycling of the spent electrolyte as a regenerated medium by removing its fission products (FP) must be further investigated to reduce the volume of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Some FP elements dissolved in the medium are apt to remain in the spent electrolyte after recovering actinoid elements. To remove such FP, the zeolite sorption is applied as it is considered the most suitable method, but its concept should be modified in order to reduce the generating waste volume. As one of the solutions, the electrolyte recycle process by phosphates is being developed. In this paper, the author has discussed the pyroprocess development, highlighting the spent electrolyte treatment from the viewpoint of economical and environmental load reduction.