25+ YEARS OF SOLVENT EXTRACTION DEVELOPMENTFOR MINOR ACTINIDE SEPARATION IN EUROPE

The recycling of irradiated nuclear fuels contributes significantly to the sustainability of nuclear energyproduction (Serp et al. 2017). The well-established PUREX process to separate uranium and plutonium ispivotal to this recycling. Additionally separating and recycling the minor actinides — most notably americium —further contributes to this goal. Internationally, efforts are made to develop novel solvent extraction processesfor the separation of americium from irradiated nuclear fuels.Concepts to separate americium from the PUREX raffinate solution have been developed in Europe over thelast 25+ years within European collaborative projects (NEWPART, PARTNEW, EUROPART, ACSEPT,SACSESS, GENIORS). Numerous novel extracting agents have been synthesised and screened. Processeshave been developed and tested on the lab scale up to a “technical readiness level” of TRL = 5 (Baron et al.2019). Depending on the process chemistry applied, schemes each consisting of one, two or three solventextraction cycles are required to obtain a pure americium product (Geist et al. 2021). The various solventextraction processes are briefly introduced, the most suitable choices are pointed out, and the processschemes are compared to one another.Baron, P.; Cornet, S. M.; Collins, E. D.; DeAngelis, G.; Del Cul, G.; Fedorov, Y.; Glatz, J. P.; Ignatiev, V.; Inoue,T.; Khaperskaya, A.; Kim, I. T.; Kormilitsyn, M.; Koyama, T.; Law, J. D.; Lee, H. S.; Minato, K.; Morita, Y.; Uhlíř,J.; Warin, D.; Taylor, R. J. (2019). A review of separation processes proposed for advanced fuel cycles basedon technology readiness level assessments.Progr. Nucl. Energy,117, 103091.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2019.103091Geist, A.; Adnet, J.-M.; Bourg, S.; Ekberg, C.; Galán, H.; Guilbaud, P.; Miguirditchian, M.; Modolo, G.; Rhodes,C.; Taylor, R. (2021). An overview of solvent extraction processes developed in Europe for advanced nuclearfuel recycling, part 1 — heterogeneous recycling.Separ. Sci. Technol.,56 (11), 1866–1881.https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2020.1795680Serp, J.; Poinssot, C.; Bourg, S. (2017). Assessment of the anticipated environmental footprint of futurenuclear energy systems. Evidence of the beneficial effect of extensive recycling.Energies,10 (9), 1445.https://doi.org/10.3390/en1009144