Comparative study of monolithic platinum and iridium as oxygen-evolving anodes during the electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide in a molten LiCl–Li2O electrolyte

Herrmann, Steven D.; Tripathy, Prabhat K.; Frank, Steven M.; King, James A.

doi:10.1007/s10800-019-01287-1

Title: Comparative study of monolithic platinum and iridium as oxygen-evolving anodes during the electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide in a molten LiCl–Li₂O electrolyte

Journal Article · Thu Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2019 · Journal of Applied Electrochemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-019-01287-1· OSTI ID:1515023

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Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

A series of four electrolytic reduction runs was performed in molten salt at bench scale to compare the performance characteristics of monolithic platinum and iridium as oxygen-evolving anodes, while simultaneously reducing uranium oxide to metal. In each run, 25 g of uranium oxide particulate was loaded into a permeable steel basket, which, in turn, was immersed in a pool of LiCl—1 wt% Li₂O at 650 °C. Both anodes, each 3 mm in diameter, were suspended vertically in the salt pool, adjacent to the steel cathode basket. The anodes were connected in parallel to separate direct current power supplies with the uranium oxide-loaded basket as the common cathode. A cell voltage (3.1 V) was intermittently applied to the system with both power supplies operating concurrently, effecting the reduction of uranium oxide to uranium metal at the cathode basket and the simultaneous oxidation of oxygen anions in the salt to oxygen gas at each anode. Anode and cathode potentials and currents were recorded to compare the performance of platinum vis-à-vis iridium. After completing the series of runs, both anodes were removed and subjected to dimensional, chemical, and microscopic analyses. Furthermore the accumulated charges on each anode over the series of four runs were similar, the platinum anode exhibited up to 29% reduction in cross-sectional area compared to <3% for the iridium anode.

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Research Organization:: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Fuel Cycle Technologies (NE-5)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 1515023

Report Number(s):: INL-JOU-18-50510-Rev001

Journal Information:: Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol. 49, Issue 4; ISSN 0021-891X

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 12 works

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Cited By (3)

Electrochemical response of various metals to oxygen gas bubbling in molten LiCl–Li2O melt Horvath, D.; Dale, O.; Simpson, M. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 323, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06925-8	journal	November 2019
Development of a Li ₂ O Sensor Based on a Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Membrane for Oxide Reduction in a Molten LiCl-Li ₂ O Electrolyte at 650°C Cao, G.; Herrmann, S.; Li, S. Nuclear Technology, Vol. 206, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2019.1666601	journal	October 2019
Review—Electrochemical Measurements in Molten Salt Systems: A Guide and Perspective Fredrickson, Guy L.; Cao, Guoping; Tripathy, Prabhat K. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Vol. 166, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0991913jes	journal	January 2019

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Title: Comparative study of monolithic platinum and iridium as oxygen-evolving anodes during the electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide in a molten LiCl–Li2O electrolyte

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Title: Comparative study of monolithic platinum and iridium as oxygen-evolving anodes during the electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide in a molten LiCl–Li₂O electrolyte