Recent advances on the chemistry of solvent extraction applied to the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels and radioactive wastes

After a brief description of the PURER process as a starting point, this paper aims to point out some of its most recent developments, always from the viewpoint of the chemistry involved in the solvent extraction methods. In addition to PURER, other well-known technological approaches devoted to the reprocessing of irradiated uranium and thorium nuclear fuels and general radioactive wastes-TRUER, DIAMEX, TRPO, DIDPA and UNEX-are also presented and discussed.