Synthesis of Mixed Actinide Oxides Using Microwave Radiation

Abstract

A method has been developed for producing mixed actinide oxides suitable for fabricating mixed nitride uranium plutonium fuel for fast neutron reactors. The method is based on the use of microwave radiation for the direct denitration of actinide nitrate solutions. The possibility of producing uranium, plutonium, and neptunium-mixed oxides was shown. A pilot installation for preparing actinide oxides by microwave denitration was designed and tested. Mixed oxides of uranium and cerium (for plutonium imitation) were successfully used to synthesize uranium cerium nitrides and produce fuel pellets. Compared with the precipitation (ammonia) method of producing mixed oxides, microwave denitration reduces the generation of secondary liquid radioactive waste by more than six times.