Mechanism of dissolution of nuclear fuel in nitric acid relevant to nuclear fuel reprocessing

The mechanism of dissolution of sintered UO 2 fuel pellets in nitric acid is the essential starting input information required for the design of a continuous dissolution system for spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. The current article establishes the mechanism of this reaction under typical PUREX process conditions based on the concentration profiles of nitric & nitrous acids and NO X gas composition during the course of dissolution of sintered UO 2 pellets in nitric acid. The results would be useful in optimizing the dissolution process and improving the throughput of the dissolution system.