EUROPART:European Research Programme for Partitioning of
Minor Actinides within High Active Wastes Issuing the
Reprocessing of Spent Nuclear Fuels
C. Madic1, M.J. Hudson3, P. Baron2 , N. Ouvrier2, C. Hill2, F. Arnaud4, A. G. Espartero5,
J.-F.Desreux6, G. Modolo7, R. Malmbeck8, S. Bourg2, G. De Angelis9 and J. Uhlir10
1/ CEA, DEN/DDIN, CEA-Saclay, France, 2/ CEA, DEN, CEA-VRH (Marcoule), France
3/ University of Reading, U.K., 4/ ECPM, CNRS, Strasbourg, France, 5/ CIEMAT, Madrid, Spain, 6/ Liège University, Liège, Belgium,
7/ ISR, FZ-Jülich, Germany, 8/ EC-JRC-ITU, Karlsruhe, Germany, 9/ ENEA, Casaccia, Rome, Italy, 10/ NRI, Rez, Czech Republic

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

1

OUTLINE
I.
II.

Introduction
Research Programme and Recent Results

II.1.
II.1.1.
II.1.2.

Research Programme and Work Package organisation
Hydrometallurgy
Pyrometallurgy

II.2.

Recent results

II.2.1.
II.2.2.

Hydrometallurgy
Pyrometallurgy

III.

General information

III.1.
III.2.
III.3.

Partnership
Organisation of EUROPART
Other information

IV.

Conclusion

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

2

I. Introduction
Today, after the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels, the nuclear wastes containing
the FPs and the Minor Actinides (MAs = Np, Am and Cm) are vitrified. The vitrified
wastes will be in the future disposed of in deep geological repository, but thedefinition of such a repository is complex owing to the radiotoxicity of the wastes
which is high to more than 105 years. After ~ 200 years, the radiotoxicity isessentially due to MAs. So the Partitioning of MAs from the wastes followed by their
nuclear destruction can simplify the definition of deep geological repository.
So, the aim of EUROPART is thedefinition of MAs Partitioning processes.
Two chemical domains have been selected:i) Hydrometallurgy andii) Pyrometallurgy.
The work has been organisedin Work Packages (WP):
5 for Hydro, and 4 for Pyro.

Figure 1. Radiotoxic inventory of an UOX spent fuel (45GWd/t).

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)3

II. Research Programme and Recent Results
II.1. Research Programme and Work Package organisation
II.1.1. Hydrometallurgy•

The target for WP1 and WP2 is the Partitioning of trivalent MAs (Am and Cm) from HAR or
HAC issuing the reprocessing of spent UOX or MOX fuels. Research done is in continuity
with that done in FP-5: PARTNEW for WP1 and CALIXPART for WP2,•

The target for WP3 and WP4 is the partitioning of all the actinides contained within newfuels, like those of ADS facility. Research done is in continuity with PARTNEW for WP3 and
CALIXPART for WP4.

•

The objective of WP5 is the definition of co-conversion methods of partitioned actinides toprepare new fuels (oxides, carbides and nitrides).

•The work in each WP is organised in several Tasks which are listed below.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

4

WP1 and WP2 list of Tasks

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Task 1: Molecular modelling of complexation and extraction,
Task 2: Synthesis and characterisation of ligands,
Task 3: Study of their extracting properties (thermodynamics, kinetics),
Task 4: Determination of the structures of the ligands and their metallic
complexes at molecular and supramolecular levels,
Task 5: Study of the stability of the ligands vs radiolysis and hydrolysis,
Task 6: Scaling-up of the synthesis for the ligand(s) selected for processdevelopment,
Task 7: Design of process flowsheet(s),Task 8: Realisation of cold test(s) of the processes,
Task 9: Preliminary hot test(s) of the processes.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

5

WP3 and WP4 list of Tasks

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Task 1: Molecular modelling of complexation and extraction for both liquidliquid extraction and chromatography,
Task 2: Synthesis and characterisation of ligands,
Task 3: Study of their extracting properties (thermodynamics, kinetics),
Task 4: Determination of the structures of mixtures of ligands and of their
metallic complexes at molecular and supramolecular levels,
Task 5: Study of the stability of the of mixtures of ligands vs radiolysis andhydrolysis,
Task 6: Scaling-up of the synthesis for the ligand(s) selected for processdevelopment,
Task 7: Design of process flowsheet(s),Task 8: Realisation of cold test(s) of the processes,
Task 9: Preliminary hot test(s) of the processes.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

6

WP5 list of Tasks•

Task 1: Determination of the performances of the co-conversion method,
including: the kinetics of the reactions, the yields of co-conversion, asfunctions of the operating conditions, such as the composition of theaqueous solution(s), the concentration of the reagent added, thetemperature, etc..,•

Task 2: Chemical, physical and structural characterisations of the compounds
formed after separation from the aqueous solution(s),•Task 3: Study of the conversion method(s) of the solid(s) formed from thesolution(s) into the final compounds (oxide, nitride, carbide),•

Task 4: Chemical, physical and structural characterisations of the final
compounds (oxide, nitride, carbide) prepared, with an assessment of
their suitability to prepare fuel(s).

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)7

II.1.2.

Pyrometallurgy•

The work is this domain is organised into 4 WP s,•

For WP6, the work concerned the determination of basic properties of actinides andof some FP elements into: i) molten salts (halides: chlorides and fluorides), ii)
molten metals,•

The work to be done within the WP7 concerns the definition of pyrometallurgicalprocess development and also the creation of experimental facilities to test
pyrochemical processes,•

For WP8, the work concerns the definition of solid matrices for the confinement ofspent molten salts,•

The work done in WP9 is related to the study of fuel cycle systems involving
pyrometallurgical process(es).
9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

8

WP6 list of Tasks•

Task 1:

Completion of the determination of basic properties of An (from U
to Cf if possible) and FPs in Molten Salts and Molten Metals media
taking into account the experimental procedures,•

Task 2:Compilation, comparison and analysis of thermodynamic data

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

9

WP7 list of Tasks•

Task 1:

Process development for the partitioning of actinides from HLLW issued
from UOX and MOX fuel reprocessing by the PUREX process based on
several separation concepts, e.g. electrolysis, precipitation, liquid-liquid
extraction with metallic solvents, with the aim to demonstrate thefeasibility of high An recovery yields (99.9 %) with sufficientdecontamination factors vs fission products (FP).

•

Task 2:

Process development for the treatment of spent fuels (SF) from advanced
dedicated fuel cycles based on several separation concepts,
e.g. electrolysis, precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction with metallic
solvents, with the aim to demonstrate the feasibility of high An recovery
yields (99.9 %) with sufficient decontamination factors vs fission
products (FP).

•

Task 3:Modelling of the processes and design of experimental devices (including
their modelling) for process implementation.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)10

WP8 list of Tasks•

Task 1:

Selection of solid matrix(ces) for wastes conditioning,•

Task 2:

Determination of the chemical and physical properties of theselected matrix(ces),•

Task 3:

Determination of the resistance vs aqueous leaching of the MS
wastes conditioned within the selected matrix(ces),•

Task 4:

Study of conversion method(s) of the chloride salt wastes intooxides for subsequent conditioning of the radioactive wastes
within a glass matrix.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)11

WP9 list of Tasks•

Task 1:

Identification of all the steps involved for each process,•Task 2:

Calculation of the fluxes of all the media involved within theprocess(es), including the fluxes of wastes. These fluxes could benormalised vs a produced quantity of electricity (TWhe),•

Task 3:

Design of flow-sheet diagrams for the processes.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)12

II.2 Recent results••

II.2.1
WP1

Hydrometallurgy

Computer modelling of extractants and of their metallic complexes.

Figure 2. Model of a bis-complex
between a lanthanide ion and abis-pyridine-bis-1,2,4-triazine(BTBP) ligand.

Figure 3. Dynamic simulation of Eu(BTP)33++ 24 free BTP molecules into a mixture of
95/5 vol.%(chloroform/water).

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

13

•

WP1

•

Supramolecular organisation of diamide solvents loaded with some solutes

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

14

•Figure 5. 2,6-bis-(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-benzo[1,2,4]triazy-3-yl)-[2,2’]bipyridine.

•

Figure 6. Comparison of distribution ratios of Ln(III) and An(III) for an aqueous
equilibrium nitric acid concentration of 0.88 M.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

15

SF Am/Eu

DM(III)

1000

10

Am

Eu

Selectivity Am/Eu

1
100
0.1

Mixing time (min)
10

0.01
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Organic solution: [CyMe4-BTBP]ini = 0.01 mol/L in the “n-octanol/[DMDOHEMA] = 0.25 mol/L” mixture, pre-equilibrated with molar
nitric acid. Vorg = Vaq = 700 mL. Temperature = (25 ± 0.5)°C.
Aqueous solution: 152Eu(III) and 241Am(III) trace level in a surrogate SANEX-MOX feed: [HNO3] = 1 mol/L + [Ln(III)]tot = 8.8 m
mol/L.

•

Figure 7. Kinetics of extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) by CyMe4-BTBP from a surrogate
SANEX-MOX feed.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

16

•

WP1

•

Cold test of the DIAMEX process (DMDOHEMA extractant) using HFMDMDOHEMA
in TPH

Spent solvent

Extraction
HFM
Raffinate

FP scrub
HFM
Feed - HAR

Acid scrub
HFM
FP scrubAcid scrub

Stripping
HFM
Product

Strip sol’nFigure 8. The Hollow Fibre Module (HFM) microplant established during the DIAMEX
extraction experiment.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)17

•

WP2 and WP4•Synthesis of new ligands
H

R

O

R

H

O

O

O

i)
t-Bu

CH3
O

ii)
t-Bu

4

t-Bu

iii)
t-Bu

t-Bu

2

4

R
O

5

R

CH3

R

CH3

O

O

NO2

CH3

O

O

NH

NH

O
v)

iv)
NO2

2

NH2

NH2

2

O C

6
O Ph
P
Ph

O
C
O

2

O C

7

O2N

2

a R = C3H7
9

O P

O P

Ph Ph

Ph Ph

b R = C5H118i) R-Br, K2CO3, CH3CN; ii) MeI, NaH, DMF; iii) HNO3, CH2Cl2;iv) Raney-Ni, H2, toluene; v) 8, NEt3(cat), CHCl3

Figure 9. Synthesis scheme for the preparation of CMPO-calix[4]arenes.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

18

4Co

•

WP2 and WP4•Synthesis of new ligands

O

Co

O
O
Co

O

O

O
O

O

O

O

Co

O

O

OO

O

O

HN

10
11
5
7

2
1
2`
1`

6` 5`

4
3
Co 3`
7`
4`
11`

9

8

11

6

O

O

i. benzene
ii. NH2R
iii. acidiffication

7
1
2`

8`

9` 12`

12

9

4
3
3`
7`

8

5

2

1`

Co
4`

6` 5`

11`

R
O

O
N

O
N

H

Figure 11. New cosan-calix[4]rene.

i. THF/ NaH

N

O

H

O2N

8`

O

O
C

ii

9` 12`

H2C

10`

10`

O

12

10

12

HN

N

Synthesis is based on two step procedure

6

HN

HN

O
N

O
P

zwitterionic intermediate

COSANDIOXANATE

10
11

6

Figure 10. Synthesis schemeof cosan-CMPO.

12

9

4
3
Co 3`
7`
4`

8

5
7

2
1
2`
1`

6` 5`

11`

R
O

C

8`

9` 12`

N

O

O

H2C

10`

P

O

R= t-Oct

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)19

•

WP2 and WP4•Synthesis of new ligands and extraction properties
O
C8H17
NH

MeO

O

OMe

O

MeO

O

O

O

O

N

N
C8H17

O
N
C8H17

C8H17

C8H17

UAM-077

O

O

O
N
C8H17

O

O

N

O

UAM-079

NH

NH

NH
NH

O

HN

O

O

O

O
OMe OMe
O

HN

HN

HN

O
O
N
C8H17

O

O

O

HN

HN

OMe

N

N
C8H17

UAM-090

Ligand
HNO3(M)

10-2M UAM-077

1.5·10-2M UAM-079

10-2M UAM-090

DAm

DEu

DAm

DEu

DAm

DEu

3

0.017

0.015

0.012

0.010

0.12

0.45

4

0.018

0.018

0.017

0.016

-

-

5

0.016

0.018

0.015

0.014

-

-

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

20

•

WP3

•

Extraction of Am(III) and Eu(III) with solid extractants
1E+3
Dg / ml.g-1

Dg / ml.g-1

1E+3

1E+2

1E+2

1E+1

1E+1

1E+0

1E+0

1E-1
0,001

Eu, no carrier added

Eu, 10-5 M Eu

Am, no carrier added

Am, 10-5 M Eu
1E-1

0,01

0,1

1
10
-1
[HNO3] / mol.L

0,001

0,01

0,1

1

10

[HNO3] / mol.L-1

Figure 13. Dependence of weight distribution ratios Dg of Eu and Am on DMDOHEMA–PAN(HNO3) solid
extractant on nitric acid concentration in absence of any carrier or in the presence of 10–5M Eu carrier.
(0.1 M NaNO3 + HNO3, V/m = 250 mL/g, 20 hrs contact time).

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

21

•

WP3

•

Chromatographic separation
4

Step

1

2

3

4

5

U

6

3.5
La

Pd
Rh

Pr

Ru

3

Sr

Ce

Mo
Zr

2.5

Am

Y

Cm

La
Pr

C/C0

Gd

Nd
S

2

Nd
Ce
Sm
U

1.5

Ru, Pd, Rh, Mo,
Cs, Fe, Cs; Pd

Sm

Cs
Fe
Am

Eu
E

1
Zr

Cm
Cf
Eu

Sr

Gd

0.5

Cf

Y

Pd
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Fraction number

Figure 14. Chromatographic separation of a synthetic HAR by a TODGA column.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

22

•

WP3

•

Modified PUREX process for U/Pu splitting
S1
30% TBP/ExD80
4.0 ml/min

12

HA

9

8

HA

4

5

HS

1

HAF
AP1

[U] 150 g/L[Pu] 100 g/L[Np(VI)] 0.1 g/L[Tc] 250 mg/L
3M HNO 3~2.6 M HNO 3
1.74 ml/min

SP1
S2
30% TBP/ExD80
2.0 ml/min

A1
3M HNO 3
0.64 ml/min

1.6 ml/min[U] ~ 40 g/L[Pu] ~ 27 g/L
0.32 M HNO 3~4 ml/min

SP2[U]~27g/L[Pu] 0 g/L

28 URX 25

24 PuS 21

20 PuS 17

AP2

16 PuS 13~7.0 ml/min

A2[Pu] ~ 27 g/L[U]~0.7 g/L
0.52 M HNO 3

Solvent

0.5 M AHA
0.2 M HNO 3~2.4 ml/min

Aqueous

4.0 ml/min

Figure 15. Schematic of flowsheet for the third U/Pu split trial.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

23

•

WP5

•

Sol-gel and coprecipitation techniques

Figure 16. Zr/Y/Ce gel beads, Tbath = 80 °C, dried at Tamb.
a
9

0.8

pH

7
Th
Ce

6

0.6

5

0.4

4

Ce(IV)

0.2[element]t / [element]initial

1.0
Ce(III)

8

Th(IV)

3

0.0

2
-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Time t, min

Figure 17. Coprecipitation of ThO2-50 % CeO2 powder. Evolution of the pH and element concentration
during precipitation.
9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)24

II.2. Recent results
II.2.2. Pyrometallurgy
WP6
Study of electrochemical properties of Np in LiCl-KCl eutectic melt

0.35
0.06 V s-1
0.08

0.25

0.09
0.1
0.2
0.3

I / A·cm-2

•
•

0.15

0.4

0.05

-0.05

-0.15
-2.3

-2.1

-1.9

-1.7
-1.5
E / V vs AgCl/Ag

-1.3

-1.1

Figure 18. Cyclic voltammogram for Np in LiCl-KCl – left: full scale; right: study of the Np(III)/Np(0)couple.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

25

•

WP7

•

Electrorefining of An metallic alloy

Figure 19. Experimental set-up used in the electrorefining experiments and aluminum cathode

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

26

•

WP7

•

Liquid-liquid reductive extraction

M
Pu
Am
Ce
Sm
Eu
La

DM
197 ±30144 ±20
0,142 ±0,01
0,062 ±0,006<0,013<0,06

SAm/M
0,73 ±0,2111014 ±213
2323 ±488>11000>2400

Figure 20. Mass distribution coefficients (DM=Xmetal/Xsalt) of actinides and lanthanides with Al/Cu andseparation factors with Am (DAm/DM). Pictures: salt before and after extraction (blue colour mainly due to
Pu and brownish colour mainly due to remaining Sm & Eu)
9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

27

•

WP7

•

New facilities for studying pyrochemical processes

Figure 21. Built-in electrolyser for fluoride media at NRI (left) and PYREL II electrolyser facility at
ENEA (right).

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

28

•

WP8

•

Sodalite is a matrix studied for the confinement of spent chloride salt

Figure 22. XRD of Cs, Rb, Li, K –doped sodalite sample synthesized at 700 °C for 48 h by reaction
between salt and nepheline (S = sodalite, N= nepheline, KLiAlSiO4 = potassium lithium aluminumsilicate).

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

29

•

WP9

Figure 23. System for the pyrochemical treatment of ADS spent fuel.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)30

III. General information
III.1. Partnership (1/2)

N° Partner

Country

1
1’
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

FranceFranceUnited Kingdom
SwedenSpain
Czech Republic
FranceFrance
Italy
Germany
Spain
Czech Republic
Germany

CEA-DEN, Marcoule
CEA-DSM, Saclay
Nexia Solutions
Chalmers University, Göteborg
CIEMAT, Madrid + UVA
CTU, Prague
ECPM-CNRS, Strasbourg
EDF, Paris
ENEA –Casaccia, RomaFZJ, JülichICMAB-CSIC, Barcelona
IIC. Rez
INE-FZK, Karlsruhe

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)31

Partnership (2/2)

N° Partner

Country

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

(JRC, located in Germany)
Germany
Czech RepublicCzech Republic
Italy
Spain
Belgium
France
Italy
United Kingdom
Netherlands
PolandJapan
Australia

ITU, Karlsruhe
JGU, Mainz
Katchem, Prague
NRI, Rez
PoliMi, Milano
UAM, Madrid
ULG, Liège
ULP, Strasbourg
UNIPR, Parma
UREAD, Reading
UT-SMCT, Twente
ICHTJ, Warszawa
CRIEPI
ANSTO

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)32

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)33

Partners

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)34

III. 2. Organisation of EUROPART
CO-ORDINATOR
Pr. C. MADIC+ secretary N. OUVRIERGOVERNING COUNCIL
Chair person: Dr. M. HUDSON+ 1 scientist/Lab. (Total: 26 persons)

MANAGEMENT
of WPs
1 scientist/WP(Total: 9 persons)

EXECUTIVE BOARD
Chief executive: C. MADIC+ 5 scientists for HYDRO+ 4 scientists for PYRO
(Total: 11 persons)

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

35

List of the WP leaders
WP N°

WP leaderPartner Laboratory

WP1
WP2
WP3
WP4
WP5

Dr. Clément HILL
1 (CEA-Marcoule, F)
Dr. Françoise ARNAUD
6 (CNRS-Strasbourg, F)
Amparo. G. ESPARTERO 4 (CIEMAT, Madrid, SP)
Pr. Jean-François
DESREUX
19 (ULG, Liège, B)
Dr. Giuseppe MODOLO 9 (FZJ, Jülich, DE)

WP6
WP7
WP8
WP9

Dr. Rikard MALMBECK 13 (ITU, Karlsruhe, DE)
Dr. Stéphane BOURG
1 (CEA-Marcoule, F)
Dr. Giorgio DE ANGELIS 8 (ENEA-Casaccia, I)
Dr. Jan UHLIR
16 (NRI, Rez, CZ. Rep.)

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)36

III. 3. Other information
III.3.1. Collaborations•

Foreign organisations:––•

DOE: Am/Cm separation,
KRI (St Petersburg, Russia) and Kiev University (Kiev): ISTC and STCU programmes
on calixarenes.

European projects
ACTINET network
EUROTRANS

III.3.2.

Education, training and dissemination of knowledge

During the half-yearly meetings, 2 conferences are given by important scientists.
The results obtained are published in International journals and presented during
Conferences.
EUROPART web-site:www.europart-project.org

III.3.3.

Exploitation of knowledge

The new processes developed will be proposed in the future to industrial:
COGEMA and BNFL.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)37

Conclusion

The studies carried out within the two first years of EUROPART have lead to significant
progress for the separation of actinides and lanthanides particularly byhydrometallurgical means. In the two domains of hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy
the combined academic and industrial research has been fruitful and successful for both
fundamental research and process development. In the last year of the programmeincreasing efforts will be related to process developments and there will be more hottests. Much more work needs to be carried out and it is hoped that the studies here willlead to other projects within FP-7. The combined facilities within Europe are essential
for continued development of P&T. The results obtained within EUROPART willconsolidate the European P&T strategy. So, the results of EUROPART will certainly beconsidered by decision makers, like in France: in 2006 a political decision related to the
future of nuclear wastes will be done by the Parliament, as decided by the Law ofDecember 1991.

9th IEM on Actinide and Fission Product Partitioning and Transmutation (Nîmes, 25-29 /09/2006)

38