Highly enriched uranium recycle and conversion facility at COGEMA Pierrelatte Original Research Article

Enriched uranium inventories (over 5% U235) exist under various chemical forms and enrichments. The reuse of these materials for research reactor fuel, experimental reactors or as raw material for research laboratories requires a change in the chemical form and/or a change in the enrichment level and/or an improvement in the chemical purity. The COGEMA Pierrelatte facility (recycle and conversion facility) is well suited to perform these tasks. Its experience in this field has been acquired over the last 30 years. This paper presents the capabilities of this facility.