Reprocessing
Reprocessing
- Fuel reprocessing consists of mechanical and chemical processes to separate recyclable materials (uranium and plutonium) from waste products.
- 97% of used fuel is recyclable. Wastes are conditioned into safe forms that are suitable for long term storage and disposal
- Ownership of the nuclear materials remains with the customer throughout the process.
- All contracts signed since 1976 require overseas customers to accept back wastes arisings from reprocessing once they have been suitably conditioned. This obligation is reinforced through intergovernmental letters.
- Reprocessing provides an important option to assist in maximising the benefits from limited resources.
- Reprocessing minimises the final waste volume requiring disposal.
Uranium
- Approximately 96% of used fuel is recyclable uranium. Separated uranium is produced in a stable, powder form that is suitable for storage and future transport to enrichment and fuel fabrication facilities. The powder is stored in specially designed drums within a fully engineered facility.
- Many customers are now recycling uranium recovered in Thorp into fresh fuel for use in their reactors.
Plutonium
- Plutonium makes up approximately 1% of used fuel
- Why recycle Plutonium?
- Significant energy potential – 1gramme represents as much energy as 2 tonnes of oil
- Currently saves about 10% of world consumption of natural uranium
- Within reactor using 30% MOX fuel the amount of plutonium consumed is balanced with the amount of plutonium produced. This results in the stabilisation of the amount of safeguarded nuclear materials in storage.
- Conversion of materials from weapons programmes into peaceful uses.
Waste
- Obligation for customers to accept back wastes arising from reprocessing.
- Waste substitution is the retention in the UK of Low and Intermediate Level Waste arising from the reprocessing of overseas used nuclear fuel and the returning of an additional amount of High Level Waste equivalent in radiological terms to the waste being retained. Implementing substitution will significantly reduce the number of international waste transports, allow waste returns to be completed earlier and generate proceeds to be used by the NDA to fund nuclear clean-up. The Integrated Toxic Potential (ITP) Methodology used to calculate the radiological equivalence of the substituted wastes ensures that implementing substitution is broadly environmentally neutral.
