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Abstract: Fuels to be used in Accelerator Driven Systems dedicated to Minor Actinides transmutation can be described as highly innovative in comparison with those used in critical cores. Indeed, ADS fuels are not fertile, so as to improve the transmutation performance and they contain high volumetric concentrations (∼50%) of minor actinides and plutonium compounds. This unusual fuel composition results in high gamma and neutron emissions during its fabrication, as well as degraded performances under irradiation. Ceramic-Ceramic and Ceramic Metallic composite fuels consisting of particles of (Pu,MA)O2 phases dispersed in a magnesia or molybdenum matrix were investigated within the European Research programme for Transmutation, as driver fuels for a prospective 400MWth transmuter: the European Facility for Industrial Transmutation. Fuel performances and safety of preliminary core designs were evaluated to support the project. Out-of-pile as well as in-pile experiments were carried out to gain essential knowledge on properties and behaviour under irradiation of these types of fuel. This paper gives an overview of experimental results within the project. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Minor actinides constitute a significant contribution to the long term radiotoxicity of spent fuel. Their separation from spent fuel, fabrication and irradiation in homogeneous or heterogeneous reactor recycling modes provides a means to dramatically reduce their impact. Several challenges must be overcome in the separation and fabrication steps. Advanced robust fabrication processes are required to minimise dust and to produce fuels specifically designed to optimise their destruction through neutron irradiation. At the Institute for Transuranium Elements fabrication routes based on sol gel and infiltration have been developed to meet these demands. Dedicated fuels and targets have been produced and their irradiation behaviour is being tested. Fuels based on MOX and UO2 are being tested with respect to Gen IV fast reactor initiatives. Furthermore, dedicated minor actinide transmutation fuels based on the inert matrix concept (e.g. (Zr,Y,Am)O2 and Mo based (Pu,Am)O2 composite fuels) have been produced for application in the double strata concept, whereby the minor actinides should be transmuted in an ADS. Achievements and current status of these programmesare presented and discussed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]