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Title: The Influence of Lewis Acid/Base Chemistry on the Removal of Gallium by Volatility from Weapons-Grade Plutonium Dissolved in Molten Chlorides

Abstract

It has been proposed that GaCl{sub 3} can be removed by direct volatilization from a Pu-Ga alloy that is dissolved in a molten chloride salt. Although pure GaCl{sub 3} is quite volatile (boiling point: 201 deg. C), the behavior of GaCl{sub 3} dissolved in chloride salts is quite different because of solution effects and is critically dependent upon the composition of the solvent salt (i.e., its Lewis acid/base character). In this technical note, the behavior of gallium in prototypical Lewis acid and Lewis base salts is contrasted. It is found that gallium volatility is suppressed in basic melts and promoted in acidic melts. These results have an important influence on the potential for simple gallium removal in molten salt systems.

Authors:
;  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (United States)
  2. Electrochemical Systems (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
20826721
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Nuclear Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 136; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2006 American Nuclear Society (ANS), United States, All rights reserved. http://epubs.ans.org/; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0029-5450
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY; BOILING POINTS; CHEMISTRY; EVAPORATION; GALLIUM; GALLIUM ALLOYS; GALLIUM CHLORIDES; LEWIS ACIDS; LEWIS BASES; MOLTEN SALTS; NUCLEAR WEAPONS; PLUTONIUM; REMOVAL; SOLUTIONS; VOLATILITY

Citation Formats

Williams, David F, Cul, Guillermo D. del, Toth, Louis M, and Collins, Emory D. The Influence of Lewis Acid/Base Chemistry on the Removal of Gallium by Volatility from Weapons-Grade Plutonium Dissolved in Molten Chlorides. United States: N. p., 2001. Web.
Williams, David F, Cul, Guillermo D. del, Toth, Louis M, & Collins, Emory D. The Influence of Lewis Acid/Base Chemistry on the Removal of Gallium by Volatility from Weapons-Grade Plutonium Dissolved in Molten Chlorides. United States.
Williams, David F, Cul, Guillermo D. del, Toth, Louis M, and Collins, Emory D. 2001. "The Influence of Lewis Acid/Base Chemistry on the Removal of Gallium by Volatility from Weapons-Grade Plutonium Dissolved in Molten Chlorides". United States.
@article{osti_20826721,
title = {The Influence of Lewis Acid/Base Chemistry on the Removal of Gallium by Volatility from Weapons-Grade Plutonium Dissolved in Molten Chlorides},
author = {Williams, David F and Cul, Guillermo D. del and Toth, Louis M and Collins, Emory D},
abstractNote = {It has been proposed that GaCl{sub 3} can be removed by direct volatilization from a Pu-Ga alloy that is dissolved in a molten chloride salt. Although pure GaCl{sub 3} is quite volatile (boiling point: 201 deg. C), the behavior of GaCl{sub 3} dissolved in chloride salts is quite different because of solution effects and is critically dependent upon the composition of the solvent salt (i.e., its Lewis acid/base character). In this technical note, the behavior of gallium in prototypical Lewis acid and Lewis base salts is contrasted. It is found that gallium volatility is suppressed in basic melts and promoted in acidic melts. These results have an important influence on the potential for simple gallium removal in molten salt systems.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/20826721}, journal = {Nuclear Technology},
issn = {0029-5450},
number = 3,
volume = 136,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2001},
month = {Sat Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2001}
}