Patent Number: 
Section: abstract

The method concerns processing irradiated (spent) nuclear fuel (SNF), it is primarily aimed at isolating and trapping tritium, and can be used in nuclear power industry for treating SNF. This method provides for a two-phase voloxidation of a reaction mass using gas-air mixture, the reaction mass including fragmented uranium dioxide SNF elements with containers. The first phase is carried out at 400-650° C. in the presence of air and additional carbon dioxide. The second phase is carried out at 350-450° C. using a stream of an air-vapor mixture that can be oxygen-enriched. Both phases are carried out with a repeated mechanical activation of the reaction mass. Provided in the course of the voloxidation is the gas replacement at the hour rate of about 10-50 fold the reaction chamber gas volume. Before being introduced into the reaction chamber, the gas is preheated up to the chamber internal temperature.