Development of the ERIX process for reprocessing spent FBR-MOX fuel - Outline of the process and recent research results

To develop an advanced technology for reprocessing spent FBR-MOX fuel, we have proposed a new aqueous reprocessing system named ERIX Process (The Electrolytic Reduction and Ion Exchange Process). This process consists of (1) Pd removal by selective adsorption using a specific anion exchanger; (2) electrolytic reduction for the valence adjustment of the major actinides including U, Pu, Np and some fission products such as Tc and Ru; (3) anion exchange separation for the recovery of U, Pu and Np using a new type of anion exchanger, AR-01; and (4) selective separation of long-lived minor actinides (MA=Am, Cm) by extraction chromatography. In this work, a hot test using an irradiated MOX-fuel solution was carried out by the column packed with SiPyR-N3 anion exchanger to evaluate the removal behavior of Pd contained in spent fuel solution. Furthermore, recent experiment results on electrolytic reduction and anion exchange separation using simulated spent fuel solutions containing U and the platinum group FP elements such as Ru, Rh and Pd are also reported.