Processing used nuclear fuel with nanoscale control of uranium and ultrafiltration

Ernest M. Wylie; Kathryn M. Peruski; Sarah E. Prizio; Andrea N.A. Bridges; Tracy S. Rudisill; David T. Hobbs; William A. Phillip; Peter C. Burns

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.02.013

Processing used nuclear fuel with nanoscale control of uranium and ultrafiltration

Ernest M. Wylie, Kathryn M. Peruski, Sarah E. Prizio, Andrea N.A. Bridges, Tracy S. Rudisill, David T. Hobbs, William A. Phillip, Peter C. Burns

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Current separation and purification technologies utilized in the nuclear fuel cycle rely primarily on liquid-liquid extraction and ion-exchange processes. Here, we report a laboratory-scale aqueous process that demonstrates nanoscale control for the recovery of uranium from simulated used nuclear fuel (SIMFUEL). The selective, hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative dissolution of SIMFUEL material results in the rapid assembly of persistent uranyl peroxide nanocluster species that can be separated and recovered at moderate to high yield from other process-soluble constituents using sequestration-assisted ultrafiltration. Implementation of size-selective physical processes like filtration could results in an overall simplification of nuclear fuel cycle technology, improving the environmental consequences of nuclear energy and reducing costs of processing.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	125-130
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Nuclear Materials
Volume	473
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.02.013
State	Published - May 1 2016
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This research is funded by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences of the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Materials Science of Actinides Energy Frontiers Research Center ( DE-SC0001089 ). Chemical analyses were conducted at the Center for Environmental Science and Technology and the Midwest Isotope and Trace Element Research Analytical Center at the University of Notre Dame. Raman spectra were collected at the Materials Characterization Facility of the Center for Sustainable Energy at the University of Notre Dame.

Funders	Funder number
Materials Science of Actinides Energy Frontiers Research Center	DE-SC0001089
Office of Basic Energy Sciences
U.S. Department of Energy

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10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.02.013

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title = "Processing used nuclear fuel with nanoscale control of uranium and ultrafiltration",

abstract = "Current separation and purification technologies utilized in the nuclear fuel cycle rely primarily on liquid-liquid extraction and ion-exchange processes. Here, we report a laboratory-scale aqueous process that demonstrates nanoscale control for the recovery of uranium from simulated used nuclear fuel (SIMFUEL). The selective, hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative dissolution of SIMFUEL material results in the rapid assembly of persistent uranyl peroxide nanocluster species that can be separated and recovered at moderate to high yield from other process-soluble constituents using sequestration-assisted ultrafiltration. Implementation of size-selective physical processes like filtration could results in an overall simplification of nuclear fuel cycle technology, improving the environmental consequences of nuclear energy and reducing costs of processing.",

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AU - Wylie, Ernest M.

AU - Peruski, Kathryn M.

AU - Prizio, Sarah E.

AU - Bridges, Andrea N.A.

AU - Rudisill, Tracy S.

AU - Hobbs, David T.

AU - Phillip, William A.

AU - Burns, Peter C.

PY - 2016/5/1

Y1 - 2016/5/1

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AB - Current separation and purification technologies utilized in the nuclear fuel cycle rely primarily on liquid-liquid extraction and ion-exchange processes. Here, we report a laboratory-scale aqueous process that demonstrates nanoscale control for the recovery of uranium from simulated used nuclear fuel (SIMFUEL). The selective, hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative dissolution of SIMFUEL material results in the rapid assembly of persistent uranyl peroxide nanocluster species that can be separated and recovered at moderate to high yield from other process-soluble constituents using sequestration-assisted ultrafiltration. Implementation of size-selective physical processes like filtration could results in an overall simplification of nuclear fuel cycle technology, improving the environmental consequences of nuclear energy and reducing costs of processing.

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M3 - Article

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VL - 473

SP - 125

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JO - Journal of Nuclear Materials

JF - Journal of Nuclear Materials

ER -

Processing used nuclear fuel with nanoscale control of uranium and ultrafiltration

Abstract

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