Development of the technological process for the IGR reactors highly-enriched irradiated uranium-graphite fuel immobilization
Samarkhanov K.K. Baklanova Y.Y. Bukina O.S. Baklanov V.V. Koyanbayev Y.T. Kukushkin I.M. Bolshinsky I.M. Bateman K.J.
May 2025Elsevier B.V.
Journal of Nuclear Materials
2025#610
The immobilization of irradiated highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel is a critical component of nuclear waste management and non-proliferation efforts. In Kazakhstan, at National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan special attention is given to managing legacy HEU fuel from research reactors. One such case involves the IGR research reactor, whose first core containing irradiated HEU uranium-graphite fuel was operated from 1961 to 1966 and removed following reactor modernization. This fuel now requires a reliable and secure immobilization strategy. This paper presents the development of a technological process for immobilizing this fuel to reduce its enrichment to below 20 % in terms of 235U content. The proposed method involves down-blending irradiated HEU fuel with depleted uranium, followed by encapsulation in a Portland cement matrix. Full-scale experiments were conducted to assess the uniformity of uranium distribution within the matrix. The results confirm the effectiveness of this approach, ensuring reliable immobilization of fuel in accordance with international requirements, including IAEA standards and Kazakhstans regulatory framework. These findings contribute to the broader effort of adapting immobilization strategies for the safe management of spent fuel from research reactors.
Conversion , Down blending , Highly-enriched uranium-graphite fuel , IGR reactor , Immobilization
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Institute of Atomic Energy branch of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kurchatov, Kazakhstan
Shakarim University, Semey, Kazakhstan
Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, United States
Institute of Atomic Energy branch of the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Shakarim University
Idaho National Laboratory
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