Nuclear: Sustainable fuel cycle

New laboratory will concentrate on plutonium and actinides research

Who:

The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) has opened a plutonium and minor actinides laboratory at Sellafield. 

Technology:

The lab can perform experiments with tens of grams of plutonium and minor actinides. It is equipped with a suite of modern plutonium gloveboxes and supporting fumehoods. The lab features a bespoke 30-stage mini-centrifugal contactor cascade and an 18-stage small-scale mixer-settler battery to allow for solvent extraction-based actinide separations.

The gloveboxes are fitted with spectroscopic capability for monitoring actinide oxidation states, including in-situ analysis of process liquors in the solvent extraction rigs or mixed oxide dissolution vessel.

Application:

Research into actinides is fundamental to the nuclear industry. Sellafield is looking at future fuel cycles and the disposition of plutonium and spent fuel management in general. The NNL is involved in the European Union programme of advanced spent fuel recycling, called Acsept. Dr Robin Taylor, senior fellow at the lab, says Acsept is “looking at advanced methods of dealing with spent fuel for future fuel cycles, and how to separate out the actinides for recycling and for waste management purposes”.

Acsept could help to develop a sustainable nuclear fuel cycle for implementation in Europe. Taylor says: “The minor actinides could be recycled for burning so they don’t form part of long-lived radioactive waste. If you can get the plutonium and the minor actinides to be recycled they don’t form part of that waste. 

“The NNL already has a good reputation in the field but this lab gives us state-of-the art capability in terms of research into actinides. This is a unique facility in the UK and is international class.”