Feasibility of Separation and Utilization of Ruthenium, Rhodium and Palladium from High Level Wastes

The fission product nuclides generated during the irradiation of reactor fuel include several useful materials, among them precious metals of the platinum group (ruthenium, rhodium and palladium) which are of great commercial importance, occur rarely in nature and are highly valuable. This report is intended mainly to provide a basis for further consideration of the options for platinum group metal recovery from high level radioactive wastes, and for the formulation of appropriate strategies.