CONTINUOUS ELECTROWINNING OF PLUTONIUM FROM CHLORIDE MELTS
Continuous electrowinning of plutonium metal from plutonium trichloride was successfully demonstrated in nuclearly safe equipment. Nuclear safety is achieved by restricting the system in a 57 mm diameter envelope. Operation is on a 50-gramn per hour scale, with a 60 percent cathode current efficfency. The molten system consists of 30 wt% plutonium chloride, 25 wt% barium chloride, and 42 wt% potassium chloride. The system has the capability of handling some oxide in the plutonium chloride feed and to remove feed impurities that form low- boiling chlorides. Attainable product purity is limited primarily by the impurities in the feed. Basis for continuous operation is a cell with provision for metal product under flow. Slip cast ceramic oxide cells and inductive heatirg are used to permit rapid attainment of the operating temperature of 800 deg C. Best results are obtained when the operation is not interrupted, but maintained as steady as possible. Runs up to 10 hours' duration were made and prospects for runs of several days' duration are possible. Conditions were established for practical operation. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1350
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-041349
- OSTI ID:
- 4699833
- Report Number(s):
- HW-SA-3046; CONF-202-2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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