Research progress in pyrochemical reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel

Pyrochemical reprocessing has emerged as a crucial alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical methods for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel (SNF), particularly for high-burnup SNF from advanced reactors. Unlike the Plutonium Uranium Recovery by Extraction (PUREX) process, which encounters challenges with high-burnup SNF, pyrochemical reprocessing facilitates the direct processing of short-cooled fuel through electroreduction and electrorefining in molten salt. This review presents the research advancements in electroreduction and electrorefining within the context of pyrochemical reprocessing of SNF, systematically introducing the latest findings across five key areas: the electroreduction of oxide SNF pellets composed of various materials, anode materials, solid cathode materials, liquid cathode materials, and molten salt systems utilized in the electroreduction and electrorefining processes. Finally, the article summarizes the pressing issues currently facing electroreduction and electrorefining and proposes directions for future research.