Possible Options for Uranium-carbide SNF Processing

The dissolution of uranium carbide pods as surrogate of UC fuel was performed by adding calcium metal in nitric acid, individually or in conjunction with oxide WWER's fuel. Extraction tests realized with the solution coming from the dissolution of the uranium carbide pods under PUREX conditions demonstrated that the plutonium remained in the aqueous phase. According to literature, it was found that it is connected with the formation of water-soluble organic compounds during the disslution. Extraction test performed on solutions coming from the dissolution a mix of uranium-carbide and oxide fuel (WWER) showed a complete extraction of uranium and plutonium and no plutonium retention of in the organic phase at the stripping step.