Chemical aspects of the management of neptunium in nuclear wastes: a review

Neptunium-237 has been identified in several studies as being one of the most significant radionuclides determining the radiological impact of immobilised wastes in disposal. Two important features entering into cost-benefit analyses of management strategies for neptunium: the viability of processes that might be used to separate neptunium and its precursors from the wastes, and the factors influencing the release of the actinide from the environment of a repository are examined. Arisings of neptunium-containing wastes in reprocessing and fuel fabrication are reviewed. (author)