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Title: RARE EARTH AND YTTRIUM FLUORIDES. SOLUBILITY RELATIONS IN VARIOUS MOLTEN NaF-ZrF$sub 4$ AND NaF-ZrF$sub 4$-UF$sub 4$ SOLVENTS

Journal Article · · Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data (U.S.)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/je60006a004· OSTI ID:4162147

The solubilities of the trifluorides of Ce, La, Sm, and Y were determined in a NaF--UF/sub 4/--ZrF/sub 4/ solvent of composition 50-4-48 mole%, respectively, at 550 to 85O deg C. The solubility of CeF/sub 3/ in NaF-- ZrF/sub 4/ solvents of varying composition was also determined. The log solubility vs. 1/T plot for the NaF--UF/sub 4/--ZrF/sub 4/ solvent is not linear except for YF/ sub 3/. An empirical correlation for the solubilities of Ce, La, and Sm fluorides is derived in the form of a solubility vs. cationlc radius plot, which could be used to predict the solubilities of other rare-earth fluorides to plus or minus 5%. The solubilities of CeF/sub 3/ and LaF/sub 3/ are found to be additive, whereas those for YF/sub 3/ and SmF/sub 3/ are not. Phase diagrams are given for the ternary systems NaF--CeF/sub 3/-ZrF/sub 4/ (incomplete), LaF/sub 3/- - CeF/sub 3/-solvent, and SmF/sub 3/--CeF/su b 3/solvent (solvent = NaF --UF/sub 4/-- ZrF/sub 4/). It is shown that a rare-earth poison depletion process from a molten fluoride fuel by solid-solvent extraction is feasible. (D.L.C.)

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-14-013669
OSTI ID:
4162147
Journal Information:
Journal of Chemical and Engineering Data (U.S.), Vol. Vol: 5; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-60
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English