High current density cathode for electrorefining in molten electrolyte

An electrorefiner for recovering uranium from spent nuclear fuel, comprising:

• a vessel containing a molten electrolytic salt;
• a stainless steel cathode tube having an interior surface, a portion of the cathode tube interior surface having an electrical insulating coating and being disposed within the electrolytic salt, said electrical insulating coating having multiple perforations which expose said stainless steel cathode tube to said electrolytic salt and thereby creating a high current density in said cathode,
• a perforated anode basket containing spent nuclear fuel, said anode basket and fuel being disposed within said cathode tube and electrolytic salt;
• an electrical power supply in electrical communication with said cathode and said perforated anode basket to provide electrical power to said cathode and anode basket;
• a product collection bucket below said cathode and anode for collecting uranium deposited on said cathode.

A process for refining spent nuclear fuel in a molten electrolyte comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrolytic vessel containing a molten electrolytic salt;
• lowering a module comprising an anode basket and stainless steel cathode tube into the molten salt, the anode basket being loaded with spent nuclear fuel segments;
• the cathode tube having an interior surface coated with an electrical insulation material coating, said electrical insulating material coating have multiple perforations to expose the stainless steel cathode tube to the electrolytic salt;
• providing electrical communication between the anode basket and stainless steel cathode tube though the multiple perforations in the insulating material coating;
• transporting uranium from the spent fuel segments to the cathode tube;
• collecting the uranium transported the cathode tube.