Investigation of a hydrazine-free, electrochemical reduction of Pu(IV) in the Purex process

In the Purex process for reprocessing spent fuel elements, separation of uranium and plutonium is attained through a valency adjustment of Pu(III). This report describes the use of electrochemical methods in the absence of hydrazine for the adjustment of Pu(III), in place of nitrous oxide itself (or nitric oxide) as a reducing agent. This was tried at low acid concentrations in which nitrous acid…