SEPARATION OF VARIOUS COMPONENTS FROM URANIUM BY OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTIONS IN A LIQUID KCl-LiCl/ZINC SYSTEM

Technical Report · Mon Apr 10 04:00:00 EST 1961

OSTI ID:4810663

Chiotti, P; Parry, S J.S.

The separation of various components from U by oxida tion-reduction reactions in a fused KCl-LiCl/Zn system was investigated. The transfer of solutes from the Zn to the salt phase on the stepwise addition of ZnCl/sub 2/ and subsequent transfer of solutes from the salt to the Zn on the stepwise addition of Mg were measured. Solutes investigated included Fe, Mo, Nb, Cr, Y, Zr, Th, U, Pa, and Ce. The objective was to obtain basic information which would be helpful in the design of a practical separation process for the purification of spent reactor fuels. The data show that the sequences in which the components investigated are oxidized and transferred to the salt phase on the addition of ZnCl/sub 2/ at500 deg C is C, U with Y, Th, Pa, Zr, and Cr. Nb, Mo, and Fe are not oxidized and remain in the Zn. The inverse sequence results on reduction with Mg. Measurements were also carried out at 700 deg C. Experimental evidence for a valence of three for Th as chloride in the salt is presented. The data indicate that the valence of Zr is also three with increasing amounts of plus four present as the ZnCl/sub 2/ content of the salt is increased beyond l.0 wt%. Activity coefficients for some of the solutes in Zn are presented. An attempt is made to correlate the data obtained with available thermodynamic data. (auth)

• Research Organization: Ames Lab., Ames, Iowa
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-82
• NSA Number: NSA-16-010100
• OSTI ID: 4810663
• Report Number(s): IS-286
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CERIUM
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMIUM
CLEANING
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUSED SALTS
IRON
LIQUIDS
LITHIUM CHLORIDES
MAGNESIUM
MEASURED VALUES
MOLYBDENUM
NIOBIUM
NUMERICALS
OXIDATION
PHASE DIAGRAMS
POTASSIUM CHLORIDES
PROTACTINIUM
REACTORS
REDUCTION
REFINING
REPORT
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
THERMODYNAMICS
TRANSFER FUNCTIONS
URANIUM COMPLEXES
YTTRIUM
ZINC CHLORIDES