Molten tin reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel elements

A method for reprocessing spent nuclear fuels in an apparatus having liquid tin disposed within a containment vessel, and a solid plug comprising tin and nitrides precipitates, said plug having a top section and a bottom section, with the top section interfacing with and supporting said liquid tin within the containment vessel;

• comprising the steps of:
• (a) fedding spent nuclear fuel into said containment vessel;
• (b) immersing said spent nuclear fuel in said liquid tin under an atmosphere of nitrogen, thereby forming nitride precipitates from said spent nuclear fuel, said nitride precipitates being dispersed throughout said liquid tin;
• (c) heating the area of said containment vessel adjacent to and surrounding said bottom section of said plug creating a melted portion, said melted portion of said plug being removable from said containment vessel by gravity or other means, while said top section of said plug remains solidified and provides support for said liquid tin and nitride precipitates remaining in said containment vessel, while slowly descending in said containment vessel;
• (d) then subsequently cooling the area of said containment vessel adjacent to and surrounding the descending section of said plug to halt its descent, while heating the area of said containment vessel adjacent to said top section of said plug, thereby solidifying the layer of liquid tin and dispersed nitride precipitates which interfaces said top section of said plug, whereby the steps (c) and (d) may be sequentially repeated to thereby effect continuous removal of nitride precipitates from said vessel;
• and
• removing said melted bottom section of said plug from said containment vessel.