Abstract
Catalyst Enhanced Molten Salt Oxidation provides a rapid and efficient separation and recycling technology for spent nuclear fuel. Air bubbled into molten carbonate creates peroxide and superoxide ions and addition of a small amount of nitrate acts as a catalyst that maintains and increases their concentration. Density Functional Theory calculations have confirmed that an adduct is formed between peroxide and nitrate, as the first step in superoxide formation. Uranium dioxide (powder and ceramic) is completely oxidized to insoluble uranates by air sparging in molten carbonates, (solubility of uranates ca. 200 ppm). After removing uranates the fission product elements in solution can be precipitated (>97% efficiency) as phosphates, in ca. 3h, and the carbonate melt re-cycled. The application of CEMSO to both reprocessing and radioactive waste is a valuable tool and technique and fully applicable to current decommissioning and future nuclear reactor technology. Areas needing further research are identified.