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UCl3 synthesis in molten LiCl–KCl and NaCl–MgCl2 via galvanically coupled uranium oxidation and FeCl2 reduction

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Abstract

Molten salt mixtures containing LiCl–KCl and NaCl–MgCl2 have been infused with UCl3 via reaction of U metal and FeCl2. The process starts with base salt (LiCl–KCl or NaCl–MgCl2) drying/purification using hydrochlorination via bubbling anhydrous HCl. An auto-titrator running in pH-stat mode was used to determine the point at which there is no net reaction with the salt. U metal is contained in a porous stainless steel basket as it is submerged in the molten salt. The byproduct Fe metal forms dendrites on the basket walls, allowing for simple separation from the molten salt. Based on analysis of salt samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, UCl3 yield of 90% was attained in both NaCl-MgCl2 at 550 °C and in LiCl–KCl at 450 °C. Open circuit potential difference between a W rod working electrode and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode indicated a UCl4 to UCl3 activity ratio of 1 × 10−5. The iron dendrites were comprised of linked cubic structures with length scale of about 50 µm.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge funding from the Los Alamos National Laboratory under subcontract 641280, through LANL Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Project #20210113DR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science and Engineering Department, University of Utah, 122 S. Central Campus Drive #304, Salt Lake City, 84112, USA

    Jacob Yankey, Jarom Chamberlain & Michael Simpson

  2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, 87545, USA

    Marisa Monreal & Matt Jackson

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  1. Jacob Yankey
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  2. Jarom Chamberlain
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  3. Marisa Monreal
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  4. Matt Jackson
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  5. Michael Simpson
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Correspondence to Jacob Yankey.

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Yankey, J., Chamberlain, J., Monreal, M. et al. UCl3 synthesis in molten LiCl–KCl and NaCl–MgCl2 via galvanically coupled uranium oxidation and FeCl2 reduction. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 2317–2328 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08866-9

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