Design study and evaluation of advanced reprocessing systems for FR fuel cycle

The plant concept concerning the reprocessing system has been constructed from the viewpoints of economical improvement, decrease in environmental burden, better resource utilization, etc. (1) A advanced aqueous reprocessing consisting of a simplified solvent extraction process with the addition of uranium crystallization step and MA recovery process using the extraction chromatography for oxide fuels has a high technical feasibility for the process and the possibility of practical use is expected at an early stage. As for super-critical direct extraction reprocessing, there are still insufficient basic data although further economical improvement is expected. (2) Oxide electrowinning reprocessing has the possibility of economical improvement if simplification of the process can be achieved. However this system has several uncertain factors which affect the technical feasibility of the MA recovery process, etc. (3) Concerning metal electrorefining reprocessing for metal fuels, high economical efficiency is generally expected of small-scale facilities, although actual proof of the TRU recovery process using spent fuel is required. (4) For nitride fuels, each system requires the developments of head-end process and the nitrogen isotope (15N) recovery technique. (author)