Two-step chloride volatility process for separating uranium and transuranic elements from radioactive waste

A method for separating elements from used nuclear fuel comprising:

• positioning a quantity of used nuclear fuel in a hot zone of a chamber;
• chlorinating a quantity of the used nuclear fuel;
• introducing a hydrogen chloride gas or inert gas stream to the used nuclear fuel in the hot zone;
• vaporizing a portion of the used nuclear fuel;
• depositing of the portion of the vaporized nuclear fuel in a cold zone of the chamber;
• introducing a chlorine gas to a residual used nuclear fuel that remains after vaporizing the portion of the used nuclear fuel;
• vaporizing a portion of the residual used nuclear fuel in the hot zone;
• and
• depositing the vaporized portion of the residual used nuclear fuel in the cold zone of the chamber.

A method of separating elements from used nuclear fuel comprising:

• positioning a quantity of used nuclear fuel in a hot zone of a chamber;
• hydriding a quantity of the used nuclear fuel;
• introducing a hydrogen chloride gas or inert gas stream to the used nuclear fuel in the hot zone;
• vaporizing a portion of the used nuclear fuel;
• depositing of the portion of the vaporized nuclear fuel in a cold zone of the chamber;
• introducing a chlorine gas to a residual used nuclear fuel that remains after vaporizing the portion of the used nuclear fuel;
• vaporizing a portion of the residual used nuclear fuel in the hot zone;
• and
• depositing the vaporized portion of the residual used nuclear fuel in the cold zone of the chamber.