Quantify Contaminant Partitioning in Advanced Chlorination Process
Chlorination of the zirconium in spent fuel cladding has been identified as a significant means of Zr recovery and purification, enabling a 25% (wt.) or greater reduction in waste requiring geologic disposition. Several chlorinating agents have been identified over the last few years, including gases and liquids. In particular, the interactions of sulfur-chloride solvents with zirconium may allow the separation of zirconium from uranium with the selective formation of ZrCl 4 . This report reviews what is known about reactions between chlorinating agents, uranium metal and oxide, Zircaloy and its alloying elements, and fission plus activation products. Plans for testing the feasibility of applying advanced chlorination methods developed for zirconium recycling to the front end of the recycling of spent nuclear fuel are also included.