MOX fuel fabrication process from weapon plutonium feed

Process for fabricating mixed oxide (U,Pu)O2 nuclear fuel from weapon originating plutonium oxide (W—PuO2), including:

• a process for fabricating MOX fuel pellets including:
• a first blending (1) of dry processed W—PuO2 with dry processed MOX scrap and possibly uranium oxide powder,
• a micronization (2) and a forced sieving (3) of this first blend,
• a second blending and a mixing (4) of the micronized and sieved first blend with uranium oxide powder,
• an additive addition (5) and a pelletizing (6) of this mixed second blend,
• a sintering (7) of the resulting pellets, and
• a dry processing of W—PuO2 powder including:
• a blending (11) of the W—PuO2 powder with one or the other or both following materials:
• uranium oxide powder and/or dry processed MOX scrap,
• a micronization (12) of this blend,
• a compaction (13) of this micronized blend into tablets,
• a heat treatment (14) in reducing atmosphere of these tablets that are meant, after mechanical preparation (15), to be mixed into the first blending used in the above mentioned MOX fuel pellet fabrication, and
• a dry processing of MOX fabrication scrap including:
• a blending (21) of MOX scrap powder or crushed MOX scrap pellets, with uncontrolled impurity content, uncontrolled granulometry or uncontrolled sinterability,
• a micronization (22) of this blend,
• a compaction (23) of this micronized blend into tablets,
• a heat treatment (24) in reducing atmosphere of these tablets that are meant, after mechanical preparation (15), to be mixed into said first blending used in the MOX fuel pellet fabrication.