Assessment of the Complete Core of the Reference Pyrochemical Process, Developed by the CEA

Abstract

Pyrochemical separation technology using high-temperature molten salts presents a potential interest for an overall separation strategy. Pyrochemical R&D program, launched at CEA, aims at demonstrating the feasibility of a grouped separation of actinides with sufficient decontamination. The process is based on two liquid/liquid extraction steps: a selective extraction in liquid aluminium from molten fluoride and the actinide back-extraction in molten chloride. The present work focuses on a complete study of this core of process. The reductive extraction has been assessed as function of the salt composition wile the back-extraction step focused on the behaviour of the actinides.