April 17, 2012

Since the beginning of the year, 227 tons of EDF spent fuels were treated with the aim of their recycling. Both plants (UP2 800 and UP3) are at present in operation.

• 173 containers of vitrified waste⁽¹⁾ were elaborated in vitrification facilities.
• 188 containers of compacted waste were elaborated in the facility of compaction of hulls, which assures the packaging of the metallic structures of spent fuels and allows to divide by 5 the volume of the ultimate waste.

(1)The fission products (ultimate residues of spent fuel) are incorporated in heated glass to approximately 1100°C. The whole is poured in stainless steel containers. The fission products are an integral part of stable, compact and resistant glass. This process is called vitrification.