MULTIKILOGRAM ELECTRO-REFINING OF PLUTONIUM METAL

Technical Report · Wed Oct 17 04:00:00 EDT 1962

OSTI ID:4773102

Mullins, L J; Leary, J A

>Fused salt electrorefining processes were developed for producing high purity, high density plutonium metal on the 3.5-kg scale. The refined metal, which is collected as a liquid on a tungsten cathode, drains continuously into a reservoir where it is collected as a batch casting. Product collection yields are greater than 95%. The electrolyte consists of an equimolar mixture of NaCl-- KCl containing either PuCl/sub 3/ or PuF/sub 3/. A magnesia--yttria cell contains the fused salt and liquid metal. The electrolyte and liquid anode are stirred by a ceramic stirrer to avoid polarization effects. (auth)

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., N. Mex.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• NSA Number: NSA-17-001817
• OSTI ID: 4773102
• Report Number(s): LADC-5471
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ANODES
CASTING
CATHODES
CERAMICS
DENSITY
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
FUSED SALTS
IMPURITIES
LIQUID METALS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
MIXING
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM CHLORIDES
PLUTONIUM FLUORIDES
POLARIZATION
POTASSIUM CHLORIDES
PRODUCTION
REFINING
SODIUM CHLORIDES
TUNGSTEN
VESSELS
YTTRIUM OXIDES