Galvanic reduction of uranium(III) chloride from LiCl-KCl eutectic salt using gadolinium metal

Bagri, P; Zhang, C; Simpson, MF

HERO ID

4666620

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2017

HERO ID 4666620
In Press No
Year 2017
Title Galvanic reduction of uranium(III) chloride from LiCl-KCl eutectic salt using gadolinium metal
Authors Bagri, P; Zhang, C; Simpson, MF
Journal Journal of Nuclear Materials
Volume 493
Page Numbers 120-123
Abstract The drawdown of actinides is an important unit operation to enable the recycling of electrorefiner salt and minimization of waste. A new method for the drawdown of actinide chlorides from LiCl-KCl molten salt has been demonstrated here. Using the galvanic interaction between the Gd/Gd(III) and U/U(III) redox reactions, it is shown that UCl3 concentration in eutectic LiCl-KCl can be reduced from 8.06 wt.% (1.39 mol %) to 0.72 wt.% (0.12 mol %) in about an hour via plating U metal onto a steel basket. This is a simple process for returning actinides to the electrorefiner and minimizing their loss to the salt waste stream. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Doi 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2017.06.007
Wosid WOS:000408044000014
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Keyword Galvanic actinide drawdown; Uranium(III) chloride; Molten salt electrochemistry