Technetium in a closed nuclear fuel cycle with transmutation

Abstract

The article considers the behavior of technetium during water-extraction reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel using the technological scheme applied at the RT‑1 plant of the Mayak Production Association, Russian Federation. The raffinate of the plutonium refining cycle concentrates 98.5% of technetium for subsequent selective precipitation with large amine cations. These compounds are calcined to obtain metal technetium or its carbide, which can be used as targets for technetium transmutation. In addition, this article provides options of technetium transmutation and target reprocessing for producing stable ruthenium isotopes.