Radiochemical aspects of fuel reprocessing

Radiation associated with the irradiated fuel and the radiochemical nature of elements present in the spent fuel make reprocessing a complex and difficult task. This aspect distinguishes reprocessing from conventional chemical industries. High percentage recovery of fissile material which is present in the parent material in very small quantities and the total separation of uranium and plutonium from other radiochemical elements is a real chemical engineering feat. This has become possible with the development of new solvents which are specific for selective extraction of certain metals and the progress made in the design and operation of new type of solvent extraction contactors, having minimum moving parts. By the very nature of radioactive elements, reprocessing demands on equipments, material of construction, process control instruments and measurement standards are unique and these demands are pushing the frontiers of knowledge further into new areas like laser and robotics application so that reprocessing becomes simple and less hazardous. (author)