Separation methods used for large-scale production of transplutonium elements

The production of transplutonium elements by fission reactor in countries of the world is by combination of reactor technology and chemical engineering. A review is made of the chemical processes for production of transplutonium elements on a large scale from neutron-irradiated actinoids; first, historical progress of the production in macro quantities of transplutonium elements in the world, and then the principal processes developed in respective countries and organizations. Finally, these methods are discussed with emphasis placed on the possibility of application to the partitioning of high-level liquid wastes in fuel reprocessing. (author)