| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Seaborg Institutes: Emerging Topics in Actinide Materials and Science
|
| Presentation Title |
Next Steps for Actinide Separations & Reprocessing |
| Author(s) |
Jenifer Shafer |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jenifer Shafer |
| Abstract Scope |
The most developed reprocessing technology in existence is PUREX. PUREX was developed nearly 70 years ago as a part of U.S. efforts during the Cold War. Actinide separations needs were different then and received robust government support. Consequentially, the production of pure plutonium streams was considered technologically important and the costs incurred from large footprint dissolution processes and waste treatment practices was considered irrelevant. While the PUREX process has been converted to support commercial nuclear power efforts in various countries, the technology is expensive and requires government support to develop a commercially viable fuel feedstock. While the separations step individually represents a relatively small cost compared to the broader facility, all headend steps and backend waste treatments support the separation and these drive significant cost. This presentation will consider technologies that can both 1) limit the production of pure plutonium streams and 2) decrease the cost of reprocessing technologies. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |