Actinide ion exchange technology in the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle

Ion exchange is used extensively in nuclear power technology, especially for uranium ore processing, removal of contaminants from power reactor waters and in the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle. In nuclear fuel reprocessing plants, ion exchange is used for the purification of actinide elements for further use, for the solidification of low- and medium-active waste solutions, and for the partitioning of high-level wastes. This paper reviews selected technological uses of ion exchange in these operations for recovery, separation and purification of selected actinides (Pu, U, Np, etc.). Recent research and development on ion exchange technologies for actinides are also summarized.