Integrated Experiments of Electrometallurgical Pyroprocessing Using Plutonium Oxide

Koyama, Tadafumi; Hijikata, Takatoshi; Usami, Tsuyoshi; Inoue, Tadashi; Kitawaki, Shinichi; Shinozaki, Tadahiro; Fukushima, Mineo; Myochin, Munetaka

doi:10.3327/jnst.44.382

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…An EFS was designed and fabricated to test the feasibility of the electrochemical fluorination reaction of U to UF6. Thermodynamic calculations showed that when a fluorinating agent, such as NF3, was used, the process was galvanic as described by reactions ( 8) to (10). This process was accomplished by controlling the potential of the U oxidation reaction in a molten fluoride salt mixture (electrolyte).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to reaction (10) and assuming all NF3 reacts, UF6 would be produced at a rate of 3.48 sccm with 3.48 sccm N2. At these conditions, the partial pressure of UF6 would be 5 kPa.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alternative non-aqueous separation methods are being developed that do not generate liquid waste and provide benefits for process safety. Two non-aqueous methods that have been developed for nuclear fuel processing are pyroprocessing [9][10][11][12][13][14] and fluoride volatility. [15][16][17][18][19] Pyroprocessing converts UNF into a metallic form and uses electrorefining in a molten chloride electrolyte to deposit uranium on a stainless steel electrode.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-Aqueous Electrochemical Fluorination of Used Nuclear Fuel as an Advanced Separation Process

Martínez-Rodríguez¹,

Olson²,

Gray³

et al. 2019

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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Development of efficient and environmentally benign methods to reprocess used nuclear fuel (UNF) will enable technologies for a nuclear renaissance. Electrochemical and fluorination methods for reprocessing UNF have been proposed, but combinations of electrochemical and fluorination methods have not been investigated. Electrochemical fluorination may reduce waste volumes compared to the main large-scale aqueous methods for processing used nuclear fuel. In this work, a non-aqueous electrochemical fluorination reprocessing method has been developed and demonstrated that enables gas phase uranium recovery while allowing for potential control of the reaction using a single process.Thermodynamic modeling showed a galvanic reaction between UNF and a fluorinating agent, such as NF3, in a molten fluoride electrolyte was possible and could selectively fluorinate U to UF6. To verify the model results, a reactor system for electrochemical fluorination was constructed along with vessels for product collection and analysis. Initial trials of the electrochemical reaction were performed and characterized by several electrochemical methods. The electrochemical oxidation of U using NF3 as an oxidizing agent was demonstrated and UF6 as a reaction product was detected.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to reaction (10) and assuming all NF3 reacts, UF6 would be produced at a rate of 3.48 sccm with 3.48 sccm N2. At these conditions, the partial pressure of UF6 would be 5 kPa.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%