2. Applied researches in Radiochemistry

2.4. Researches in electronuclear field

2.4.1. Some selected data

Aqueous electrochemistry in nuclear fuel cycle and in actinide production

 Electrochemical techniques find their application at different steps of PUREX process, which now is the most widely used for nuclear fuel reprocessing all over the world. PUREX process, in general, includes the fuel dissolution in nitric acid, separation U, Pu from the FP by liquid –liquid extraction with TBP-dodecane and separation U-Pu by reductive Pu(III) stripping.

 Our researches of the applications of electrochemical techniques in fuel reprocessing include:

• the increase of fuel dissolution efficiency by electrochemical dissolution of insoluble residues (alloys containing Ru-subgroup metals),
• Tc-99 separation from additional waste solution, issued from the first extraction cycle and Tc recovery from additional PUREX raffinate, see scheme:

• Pu-238 metal and intermetallic compounds production,
• Cf-252 separation from lighter actinides,
• Analytical applications,
• Studies of new carbide fuels (synthesis, dissolutions, electroanalysis of dissolution compounds).

2.4.2. Published papers on Researches in electronuclear field.