MBase: The Molecular Basis of Advanced Nuclear Fuel Separations

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Fuel cycle)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor F Livens
Chemistry
University of Manchester

Standard

EPSRC

01 April 2010

30 September 2013

42 months

£683,653

Energy

North West

Energy : Energy

Professor F Livens, Chemistry, University of Manchester

Dr M Jobson, Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester
Professor AJ Masters, Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester
Professor SM Pimblott, Chemistry, University of Manchester
Dr SLM Schroeder, Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester

Project Contact, National Nuclear Laboratory
Project Contact, Idaho National Laboratory
Project Contact, Serco Group plc

The following grants are linked : EP/I002855/1, EP/I002928/1, EP/I002952/1, and EP/I003002/1

Over 95% of used nuclear fuel is uranium and plutonium, which can be recovered and reused. However, because used fuel is intensely radioactive, this requires very complex processes. These processes can also be adapted to the separation of high hazard materials from the residual radioactive wastes, to simplify radioactive waste management. However, industrial reprocessing of used fuel primarily relies on a 50 year old solvent extraction process (Purex), which was originally developed for much simpler fuels. As a result, modern fuels can prove difficult to reprocess. We will therefore explore two different approaches to nuclear fuel separation in parallel, one based on the established Purex technology and the other on a much more recent development, ion selective membranes (ISMs). ISMsareporous, chemically reactive membranes which can bind metals from solutions then release them again, depending on conditions, thus allowing highly selective separations.In the solvent extractionsystem, we will focus on a common problem in solvent extraction, third phase formation, and on separation of a group of long lived, high hazard waste isotopes (the fission product technetium and the minoractinides). With the ISMs, we will first prove their utility in uranium/plutonium separation, then extend these studies to the minor actinides. Throughout, we will work with the elements of interest, rather than analogues or low activity models and in realistic radiation environments. In both strands of the project, we will explore the underlying physical and chemical processes then, building onthisunderstanding, we will develop a series of quantitative models, building from phase behaviour to unit operations and finally to process flowsheet models. We wil use the resulting models to explore different options for fuel reprocessing, based on scenarios defined with our industrial partners

12/08/10