Development of pyroprocessing technology

A compact, efficient method for recycling IFR fuel is being developed. This method, known as pyroprocessing, capitalizes on the use of metal fuel in the IFR and provides separation of actinide elements from fission products by means of an electrorefining step. The process of electrorefining is based on well-understood electrochemical concepts, the applications of which are described in this chapter. With only the addition of head-end processing steps, the pyroprocess can be applied with equal success to fuel types other than metal, enabling a symbiotic system wherein the IFR can be used to fission the actinide elements in spent nuclear fuel from other types of reactor. (author)