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Investigating the influence of F− on U4+ in molten LiCl–KCl–UF4 system and electro-deposition of U

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Abstract

Electrochemical behaviors of U4+ in LiCl–KCl–UF4 eutectic and deposition of U metal were investigated. It was found that the presence of F− has influence on the diffusion of U3+ and U4+ as comparing to data obtained in pure chloride molten salts. Electrochemical deposition of U was carried out by using pulse current electrolysis. Characterization results indicate that U metal was obtained at the cathode, implying U metal can be directly deposited from LiCl–KCl–UF4 eutectic in this case and the extractive ratio is calculated to be 98%. Our results demonstrate feasible separation of U from LiCl–KCl–UF4 molten salt by electrochemical method.

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Acknowledegments

This work was supported by “Strategic Priority Research Program” Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA02030000)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China

    Tiejian Zhu, Wei Huang, Haiyang Zheng, Changfeng She, Feng Jiang, Xianbin Wang, Gong Yu, Dewu Long & Qingnuan Li

  2. Center of Excellence TMSR Energy System, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China

    Tiejian Zhu, Wei Huang, Haiyang Zheng, Changfeng She, Feng Jiang, Xianbin Wang, Gong Yu, Dewu Long & Qingnuan Li

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  1. Tiejian Zhu
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  2. Wei Huang
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  5. Feng Jiang
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Correspondence to Dewu Long.

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Zhu, T., Huang, W., Zheng, H. et al. Investigating the influence of F− on U4+ in molten LiCl–KCl–UF4 system and electro-deposition of U. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 312, 479–485 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5242-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5242-x

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