An industrial process for separating the plutonium and uranium from spent uranium fuel by using tri-n-butyl phosphate as a solvent. Also "Purex process". Usually attributive.
Origin
1950s. Probably an acronym from the initial letters of plutonium uranium extraction.
Definition of Purex in US English:
Purex
(also PUREX)
noun
An industrial process for separating the plutonium and uranium from spent uranium fuel by using tri-n-butyl phosphate as a solvent. Also "Purex process". Usually attributive.
Origin
1950s. Probably an acronym from the initial letters of plutonium uranium extraction.