Development of a Grouped Actinide Extraction process for Advanced Nuclear Fuel Recycling

This presentation will address the hydrometallurgical separation concepts for the homogeneous recycling of irradiated nuclear fuel developed in Europe, the so-called Grouped Actinide Extraction (GANEX) option. The GANEX process is a two-cycle concept involving an initial extraction of uranium followed by recovery of the transuranic actinides. The talk will primarily focus on the “EURO-GANEX” cycle developed within European collaborative projects. The overall strategies, basic chemistry, flowsheet testing and response to a process upset will be described as well as the present R&D directions aimed at the process optimisation. Finally, an adjustment of the process to produce separated Np/Pu and Am/Cm products will be mentioned.