Development of Pyropartitioning Process to Recover Minor Actinide Elements from High Level Liquid Waste

A metal fuel cycle combined with pyropartitioning and transmutation of minor actinide elements from spent light water reactor fuels is proposed for closing actinide cycle. Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry has started study on the pyropartitioning since 1986. Thermodynamic properties were assessed for uranium, transuranium elements (TRUs), and fission product (FP) elements to understand the process chemistry and feasibility. After demonstration of each step by using simulating material including uranium and TRUs, a pyropartit ioning test using real high level liquid waste was performed. The feasibility of the pyropartitioning process was verified through these studies.