Commissariat a L'energie Atomique

Compagnie Generale Des Matieres Nucleaires

Jacques Bourges

Philippe Brossard

Charles Madic

Gerard Koehly

Michael Lecomte

Jean-Marc Adnet

Pascal Bros

Jean M Adnet

Louis Donnet

Method for dissolving plutonium or a plutonium alloy and converting it into nuclear fuel

The invention relates to a process for the electrochemical oxidation of Am(III) to Am(VI), usable for separating americium from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing solutions. The process consists of adding to the aqueous nitric solution (17) containing the Am(III) a) heteropolyanion able to complex the americium, such as potassium phosphotungstate and b) the Ag(II) ion for oxidizing Am(III) being converted into Ag(I), and subjecting the solution to an electrolysis under conditions such that electrochemical regeneration takes place of the Ag(II) ion from the Ag(I) ion obtained during said oxidation. After oxidizing Am(III) to Am(VI), it is possible to extract the latter in an appropriate organic solvent.

Process for the electrochemical oxidation of Am(III) to Am(VI) usable

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

Growing community of inventors

Verrieres le Buisson, France

Jacques Bourges