Chemical Processing Facilities for Partitioning Actinides from Nuclear Fuel Cycle Waste Mixtures

The U.S. Department of Energy Actinide Partitioning Program led to the conceptual design of highly integrated chemical processing facilities to achieve the required levels of actinide element partitioning from all fuel cycle wastes. These facilities utilize both conventional tributyl phosphate extraction cycles and several new extractants such as a carbamylmethylene phosphonate (bidentate) and 2-ethylhexyl alcohol. The consequences for a light water reactor fuel cycle that result from operating these partitioning facilities include increased volumes of low- and medium-level wastes and significantly increased capital investment requirements and operating costs.