Exploring the Complex Chemistry of Uranium within Molten Chloride Salts

Branch, Shirmir D.; Felmy, Heather M.; Schafer Medina, Adan; Bryan, Samuel A.; Lines, Amanda M.

doi:10.1021/acs.iecr.3c02005

Title: Exploring the Complex Chemistry of Uranium within Molten Chloride Salts

Journal Article · 05 September 2023 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.3c02005 · OSTI ID:2263363

Branch, Shirmir D. ^[1];

^[1]; Schafer Medina, Adan ^[1];

^[1]; Lines, Amanda M. ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Harsh environments represent a unique opportunity to explore new frontiers in chemistry while developing novel tools to meet global needs. Exploring the chemistry of uranium within molten salts is a key example. Actinide chemistry within the highly ionic environment of a molten salt is poorly understood, particularly in the presence of common salt impurities or without active oxidation state control. Delving into this chemistry can provide new insight into actinide and f-electron interactions. Furthermore, expanding our chemical knowledge can also enable advances in and deployment of molten salt reactors or molten salt recycle schemes. Both molten salt applications aim towards providing green, reliable, and equitable energy as well as critical materials for the world. Here the utilization of visible absorbance and Raman spectroscopies to understand and quantify U within chloride-based salt eutectics is discussed. Furthermore, machine learning techniques in the form of chemometric modelling are developed and described, providing advanced analytical tools to quantify and characterize the U present. In conclusion, these tools are then leveraged to monitor and explore the dynamic fundamental chemistry of U within chloride-based salt melts.

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Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2263363

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--181742

Journal Information:: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research Journal Issue: 37 Vol. 62; ISSN 0888-5885

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Exploring the Complex Chemistry of Uranium within Molten Chloride Salts

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