Electrochemical investigation into the mechanism of plutonium reduction in electrorefining
Currently impure plutonium metal is purified at Los Alamos National Laboratory by a molten salt electrorefining process. Electrorefining is an effective method for producing high-purity plutonium metal (> 99.95%). In general this process involves the oxidation of impure plutonium metal from a molten plutonium anode or a solvent metal/plutonium anode, transport of plutonium ions through a molten salt electrolyte, and reduction of the plutonium ions at a tungsten cathode to pure plutonium metal. Purification of the plutonium metal from impurities is based on the difference in free energies of formation between the various metallic impurities associated with plutonium. To obtain a better understanding of the overall electrorefining process and its inefficiencies, an electrochemical investigation into the mechanism for plutonium reduction in a typical electrorefining environment was undertaken. Cyclic voltammetry was selected as the method for determining the electrode mechanism for plutonium reduction at tungsten electrodes. In addition to the standard electrorefining melt (equimolar NaCl-KCl), additional melts that were being investigated in our solvent anode work were also investigated. With insight gained from this investigation, it was hoped that a better selection of electrorefining operating parameters could be obtained.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6930689
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8711195-; TRN: 88-028492
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 55; Conference: American Nuclear Society winter meeting, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 15 Nov 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ELECTROREFINING
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
PLUTONIUM
EFFICIENCY
IMPURITIES
LASL
OXIDATION
REDUCTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ACTINIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTROLYSIS
ELEMENTS
KINETICS
LYSIS
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PROCESSING
REACTION KINETICS
REFINING
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing