PURPOSE: To perform a significantly simplified chemical reprocessing by reducing UO2 in a spent fuel into U by high temperature metallurgy using no aqueous solution, separating the U from other components in the form of metal, condensing it as it is the metal by atomic laser, and further oxidizing it to provide UO2.
CONSTITUTION: After a spent fuel 30 is decladded and pulverized 31, the reduction 32 of UO2 is carried out. A fission product FP is contained in the fuel 30 other than U, and alkali metal, alkali earth metal, rare metal, and transuranic element TRU are contained in the FP. After the reduction 32 of the oxide, the FP is subjected to extraction separation 33 to separate U from the FP 38 such as TRU and noble metals. After condensed 34 by laser, U is formed into UO2 by oxidation 35 of metal uranium. The resulting UO3 is subjected to fuel manufacture 36 to provide UO2 pellets 37. On the other hand, the separated 33 FP 38 such as TRU and noble metal is distilled 40 after extraction and separation 39 of TRU to provide TRU metal 41.
MIZUGUCHI KOJI
NITSUTOU KOUICHI
KOBAYASHI TSUGUYUKI
