Closing the CANDU nuclear reactor fuel cycle with a Modified PUREX Processing System: Reducing, Refining and Recycling CANDU Spent Fuel

Abstract

Currently, CANDU nuclear reactors in Canada utilize only 0.74% of the potential energy in fresh fuel bundles before storing the remainder as nuclear 'waste' at on-site nuclear waste management facilities. With the modified PUREX processing system, it is economically possible to close the fuel cycle by extracting and converting the remaining 99% to usable energy. It is also feasible to separate out rare earths and other fission products, which decay much faster than the longer-lived actinides in the spent fuel and may be sold as precious metals. Overall, the process is designed to mitigate proliferation efforts, as well as produce a mixed-oxide fuel for reuse in CANDU reactors and metallic fuel for use in fast-neutron reactors. The multiple products generated create a profit centre.