Application of Molten Salts in the Reprocessing of Spent Oxide Nuclear Fuel

Molten salts are an important reaction medium in the reprocessing of spent oxide nuclear fuel. In the conventional process, the oxide mix in the spent fuel is first reduced chemically in a melt of LiCl to the corresponding metals. The metal mix formed is then separated in a eutectic melt of LiCl/KCl by electro-deposition. The FFC-Cambridge Process is a relatively new metallurgical oxide reduction method that would enable the electrochemical oxide-to-metal conversion of the spent oxide fuel in one step in a melt of CaCl2. This article summarises the fundamental aspects of the process and highlights its potential benefits for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. Keywords: FFC-Cambridge Process, Spent oxide nuclear fuel, Reprocessing