Methods and systems for sorting, altering, and reusing spent nuclear fuel.

Abstract

A method for processing spent nuclear fuel includes the steps of: boroxidation treatment of spent nuclear fuel pellets to form spent nuclear fuel powder; dissolving the spent nuclear fuel powder in a soluble acid to form a main process stream; extracting uranium (U), plutonium (Pu), neptunium (Np), and technetium (Tc) from the main process stream to form a first extraction stream; separating the first extraction stream into a U / Pu / Np stream and a U / Tc stream; separating the U / Pu / Np stream into a mixture of Np and U / Pu; separating one or more minor actinides and one or more lanthanides from the main process stream to form a second extraction stream; separating one or more minor actinides from one or more lanthanides in the second extraction stream; and separating one or more precious metals from the main process stream.

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