A reprocessing process of spent nuclear fuels for roughly separating U and U—Pu
from FP, TRU and the like in a nitric acid solution of spent nuclear fuels by utilizing
phenomenon of cocrystallization of hexavalent U and Pu. For example, spent nuclear
fuels are sheared and dissolved in nitric acid, and insoluble residues in the nitric
acid solution are removed. Then, a nitric acid concentration in the solution is
adjusted and a valence of Pu in the solution is adjusted to tetravalence. The solution
is then cooled to crystallize uranyl nitrate hydrate crystals and separated into
the crystals and a mother liquor, and the separated crystals are recovered as a
U product. Then, a nitric acid concentration in the separated mother liquor is
adjusted and a valance of U and Pu in the mother liquor is adjusted to hexavalence,
and the mother liquor is cooled to crystallize uranyl-plutonyl nitrate hydrate
crystals which are separated and recovered as a U—Pu mixed product.