Commissariat a L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives

Orano Cycle

Areva Nc

Coralie Balaguer

Manuel Miguirditchian

Christian Sorel

Gilles Bernier

Binh Dinh

Patrick Pochon

Marc Montuir

Estelle Ameil

A method for processing a spent nuclear fuel is disclosed which includes a step for decontaminating uranium(VI) from one or more actinides(IV) and more specially from neptunium and/or plutonium, by complexing this (these) actinide(s)(IV). This method includes a step for decontaminating uranium (VI) from at least one actinide(IV), which decontaminating step comprises at least one operation for stripping the actinide(IV) from an organic phase, not miscible with water, and wherein uranium(VI) and the actinide(IV) are present, by putting the organic phase into contact with an aqueous phase comprising nitric acid and at least one complexing agent which more strongly complexes actinides(IV) than uranium(VI), and then separating the organic phase from the nitric aqueous phase, wherein the at least one complexing agent is a diglycolamide.

Method for processing spent nuclear fuel comprising a step for decontaminating uranium (VI) from at least one actinide (IV) by complexing this actinide (IV)

Growing community of inventors

Vinon sur Verdon, France

Coralie Balaguer