Purex Steps

Question 1

Step 1: From Fuel

Answer 1

Chop up and dissolve in HNO3

Question 2

Step 2: With Dissolved Fuel

Answer 2

Centrifuge out solids

Question 3

Step 3: After Centrifuge

Answer 3

Primary Separation with Tri-Butyl Phosphate (TBP)

Question 4

Step 4a: Uranium Path 1/2

Answer 4

Decontaminate the U stream: heat (to make fission products (Np) unextractable by changing the oxidation state) then use solvent extraction (TBP)

Question 5

Step 4b: Plutonium Path 1/2

Answer 5

Decontaminate the Pu stream: Oxidise Pu(III) to Pu(IV) with nitrates, solvent extract Pu(IV) from Tc, backwash Pu(III) into acid clean out entrained solvent and the evaporate

Question 6

Step 5a: Uranium Path 2/2

Answer 6

Convert the Uranium nitrate to oxide powder (denitration) in fluidised bed reactor, producing UO2 powder and NOx gases

Question 7

Step 5b: Plutonium Path 2/2

Answer 7

Convert Pu nitrate to Pu oxalate (precipitation) using oxalic acid, then decompose to PuO2 using a 2-stage furnace