Spent Nuclear Fuel Separation With the Archimedes Plasma Mass Filter

Recycling of spent nuclear fuel from light water nuclear reactors requires the separation of fission products from the transuranic/actinide wastes (e.g. Pu, Np, Am, Cm, etc). The DOE¿s Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) and Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) programs are searching for efficient separation technologies for this mission, which are compatible with the UREX+ (URanium EXtraction Plus other separations) process. One of the requirements is that plutonium not be explicitly separated, in order to enhance the proliferation resistance of the actinide product. This project will explore the feasibility of using Archimedes Plasma Mass Filter technology in conjunction with UREX+, in order to separate fission products from actinides by mass. A working Archimedes Filter Plant has the potential to replace several of the chemical steps in UREX+. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: Separation by mass would produce a proliferation-resistant actinide product that can be burned in a reactor. Removal of the actinides from the fission products would greatly expand the long-term capacity of a geologic repository.