Separation of long-lived radionuclides from high active nuclear waste

Abstract

The management of vitrified high activity waste issued from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel is often made questionable by the presence within this waste of long-lived radionuclides (LLRNs). New management scenarios of this waste are under study at the CEA since the beginning of the 1990s, involving the development of separation processes for some LLRNs. Six LLRNs are the targets of these studies; they are: (i) the minor actinides: neptunium, americium and curium; (ii) the fission products: technetium, iodine and caesium. The present paper highlights the main achievements of the research performed at the CEA in this field.