Radioactivity confinement capability of “PARC” concept for the future reprocessing

Aiming at TRU waste arising reduction and economical competitiveness for the future reprocessing, is proposed an advanced process concept which is named PARC (Partitioning Conundrum Key) process. Enhancement of confinement capability for long-lived nuclides in a simplified Purex process is the primary subject of this R&D project. Technologies for long-lived nuclide recovery are under development, focused on ¹⁴C and ¹²⁹I in head end, ²³⁷Np and ⁹⁹Tc in extraction, and ²⁴¹Am the daughter of ²⁴¹Pu in effluents. Those nuclides focused here are mobile in the environment and highly concerned as potential hazardous among the long-lived nuclides in spent fuels. New functions in PARC process concept are designed to mitigate the environmental impacts of reprocessing wastes and also to improve economy of reprocessing in the future.