Pyrochemical processing is a promising technology for closing the nuclear fuel cycle for next generation nuclear reactors. At Idaho National Laboratory (INL), such a pyrochemical process has been implemented for the treatment of spent fuel from the Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR-II). A successful demonstration of the technology was performed from 1996 to 1999 for the Department of Energy (DOE). Since 2002, processing of the spent fuel and associated research and development activities have been carried out under DOE’s Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) program. Electrorefining is considered to be the signature or central technology for pyrochemical processing. This paper summarizes recent experience and results in electrorefining, specifically focusing on electrochemical dissolution of spent EBR-II driver fuel in the Mark-IV (Mk-IV) electrorefiner (ER)
