Head-end reprocessing studies with H.B. Robinson-2 fuel

A series of exploratory hot-cell tests was made to determine the effects of voloxidation on tritium, fission product removal, and on subsequent steps of the light water reactor fuel cycle. The 100-g scale experiments indicated that >99% of the tritium, 50% of the {sup 14}C, 6% of the {sup 85}Kr, and smaller amounts of other elements were volatilized and collected when the UO{sub 2} was roasted in air at 480{sup 0}C for {similar_to} h. There was little effect on the solubility of the uranium and plutonium in HNO{sub 3}. The experiments indicated that the first 2-h leach usually dissolved >99.9% of the uranium and plutonium, and varying amounts of fission products, in voloxidized or unvoloxidized fuel. Two additional HNO{sub 3} leaches on the unvoloxidized fuel dissolved all but 0.004% of the plutonium; the additional leaches on the voloxidized material left {similar_to}.02% of the plutonium. (28 figs., 21 tables