Exploring the speciation of actinide salts in the presence of contaminants related to molten salt reactors

Conference · Tue Jun 06 00:00:00 EDT 2023

OSTI ID:3025257

Shamindra Jayasinghe, Liyanage Ashini ^[1]; Bowen, Julie L ^[1]; Wilson, Aaron D ^[1]; Gakhar, Ruchi ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Laboratory

Molten salt reactors (MSR) are up-and-coming Generation IV nuclear reactors with either coolant and/or radioactive fuel in molten salt form. Due to their improved safety, efficiency, affordability and convenient waste processing system, these reactors are considered a superior alternative to conventional ones. However, prior to commercial implementation, it is necessary to have an extensive understanding of the reactions occurring in the MSR. The safety parameters of the MSR are determined by the rheological properties such as density and viscosity of the molten salt and these properties are governed by the local structure of the molten salts. Due to the high operational temperatures of MSR's, corrosion plays an important role. Because of their influence, the container corrosion products become part of the fuel salt matrix. In this work, we are investigating how these corrosion products, e.g., Mo, Ni, Cr, would impact the speciation of the actinide metal centers. For the initial studies, lanthanides are used as a surrogate for actinides. Lanthanide chloride salts (LnCl3) are mixed with transition metals and excess of alkali or alkali earth metal salts or salt mixtures (LiCl, NaCl, KCl). These are added to an alumina crucible, placed in a quartz tube, and sealed under a vacuum. This is heated up to around 1000 °C and slowly cooled to a temperature above the melting point of the salt and at that temperature, the reaction is taken out of the furnace. The excess salt is removed, and the resulting product is analyzed using X-ray diffraction techniques, scanning electron microscopy, and spectroscopic methods such as Raman, UV-Visible, and FTIR spectroscopy.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 3025257
• Report Number(s): INL/CON-23-72479
• Resource Type: Conference proceedings
• Conference Information: Actinides 2023, Colorado, 06/05/2023 - 06/08/2023
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 - INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
corrosion
lanthanides
molten salt