1. Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Audrea Buckley
21 November 2006

2. Nuclear Energy currently historically
provides 20% of the U.S. power supply
is produced from fission reactors
demonstrates a reliable capacity factor near 90%
historically
used in military applications
unreliable therefore uneconomic

3. Nuclear Fuel Cycle Mine Refine Enrich Fabricate React

4. Nuclear Fuel Cycle React Store (Reprocess) Vitrify Dispose

5. Reprocessing Step Cons: Pros:
energy costs indicate economic disadvantage
(political risks)
Pros:
recover fissile material for energy extraction
minimize volume of intermediate and long-term storage material

6. PUREX Process “Plutonium and Uranium Recovery by Extraction” History
United States use, disuse
International use

7. PUREX Process Technology
uses solvent extraction (liquid-liquid system)
basis for advanced fuel cycles
Generation IV reactors

8. PUREX Process

9. Variations on PUREX Process
Addition of AHA removes 99.9% Ur and 95% Tc
TRUEX, DIAMEX, SANEX
Pyroprocessing
Non-aqueous
Many others

10. Conclusions
Reprocessing technology is available at both the laboratory and industrial scales.
Potential for future advancement:
Economic incentives
Environmental incentives