Syllabus Coverage: NFC4.1, NFC4.3
The PUREX (Plutonium Uranium Refining by EXtraction) process is the dominant method of reprocessing used worldwide. It is based on liquid-liquid solvent extraction using tributyl phosphate (TBP) diluted in odourless kerosene (OK) to selectively separate uranium and plutonium from fission products following dissolution of the fuel in nitric acid.
The process can be divided into two main areas:
- Head end: Removing or penetrating the fuel cladding, dissolving the fuel, treating off-gases, and conditioning the solution.
- Solvent extraction: Separating and purifying the uranium and plutonium.