Abdulaziz, R;
Brown, L;
Inman, D;
Sharrad, CA;
Jones, A;
Shearing, PR;
Brett, DJL;
(2017)
Electrochemical Reduction of UO 2 to U in LiCl-KCl Molten Salt Eutectic Using the Fluidized Cathode Process.
Journal of The Electrochemical Society
, 164
(8)
H5280-H5285.
10.1149/2.0421708jes.
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Abstract
The electrochemical reduction of UO2 to U metal has been investigated in both Fluidized Cathode (FC) and Metallic Cavity Electrode (MCE) cell arrangements. Differences in the local concentration of O2− where the reduction takes place influnces the reduction potential. The fleeting contact of UO2 particle contact with the current collector in case of the FC results in much less O2− buildup compared to MCE. Consequently, UO2 reduction occurs over a range of potentials in the FC and may involve separate two 2-electron steps compared to one apparent 4-electron step in the MCE. It is proposed that there are three discrete periods during the FC reduction process. The first is an induction period during which reduced uranium particles gradually adhere to the tungsten current collector. The second is reduction associated with a rapid growth in electrode area and consequent increase in current. The third is a slower reduction of the remaining oxide in the melt. Complete reduction of metallic U is achieved at −2.2 V (vs. Ag/Ag+) with an estimated faradaic current efficiency of >92%
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Electrochemical Reduction of UO 2 to U in LiCl-KCl Molten Salt Eutectic Using the Fluidized Cathode Process |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1149/2.0421708jes |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1149/2.0421708jes |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © The Author(s) 2017. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Keywords: | electrochemical reduction, Fluidized cathode, LiCl-KCl eutectic, molten salt, uranium oxide |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10022757 |
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