Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Gerard Koehly

Charles Madic

Jacques Bourges

Michael Lecomte

Xavier Machuron-Mandard

Claude Kertesz

Frank Josso

Andre Bernard

A process for reducing and dissolving PuO.sub.2 comprises contacting the plutonium dioxide with a hydrazine-free, acid aqueous solution containing a reducing agent, whose redox potential is below +0.5 V/ENH in order to reduce and dissolve the plutonium. The reducing agent can be Cr.sup.2+ or U.sup.4+.

Process for reducing and dissolving PuO.sub.2

The present invention relates to a block for containing and storing radioactive waste, as well as to a process for producing such a block. In known manner, the waste is coated in a composite matrix constituted by hardened cement and epoxy resin. According to the invention, the proportion of waste is between 35 and 45% by weight, the porportion of cement between 25 and 35% by weight and the proportion of resin between 20 and 40% by weight.

Block for containing and storing radioactive waste and process for

The invention relates to a process for recovering the plutonium contained in the solid waste, such as process, technological and laboratory waste. The waste is contacted with aqueous nitric acid solution having a nitric acid concentration of 2 to 8 mole/l, which contains a compound of Ag.sup.2+ soluble in the solution, for oxidizing the plutonium present in the waste and for dissolving same in the nitric solution. Preferably, contacting takes place in an electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode, by applying a potential difference between anode and cathode which is sufficient to continuously regenerate the Ag.sup.2+ ions used for oxidizing the elements present in said waste.

Process for the recovery of plutonium contained in solid waste

The invention relates to a process for the recovery of molybdenum-99 from an irradiated uranium alloy target. This process comprises the following stages:

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Bievres, France

Gerard Koehly