Commissariat &#xc0; L'&#xc9;nergie Atomique Et Aux &#xc9;nergies Alternatives

Orano Cycle

Areva Nc

Estelle Ameil

Manuel Miguirditchian

Gilles Bernier

Christian Sorel

Coralie Balaguer

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)

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Carsan, France

Estelle Ameil