Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.7733/jkrws.2012.10.4.229

Loss of Li2O Caused by ZrO2 During the Electrochemical Reduction of ZrO2 in Li2O-LiCl Molten Salt  

Park, Wooshin (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Hur, Jin-Mok (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Choi, Eun-Young (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Kim, Jong-Kook (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
Publication Information
Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT) / v.10, no.4, 2012 , pp. 229-236 More about this Journal
Abstract
A molten salt technology using $Li_2O$-LiCl has been extensively investigated to recover uranium metal from spent fuels in the field of nuclear energy. In the reduction process, it is an important point to maintain the concentration of $Li_2O$. $ZrO_2$ is inevitably contained in the spent fuels because Zr is one of the main components of fuel rod hulls. Therefore, the fate of $ZrO_2$ in $Li_2O$-LiCl molten salt has been investigated. It was found that $Li_2ZrO_3$ and $Li_4ZrO_4$ were formed chemically and electrochemically and they were not reduced to Zr. The recycling of $Li_2O$ is the key mechanism ruling the total reaction in the electrolytic reduction process. However, $ZrO_2$ will have a role as a $Li_2O$ sink.
Keywords
$Li_2O$-LiCl molten salt; Electrolytic reduction; $ZrO_2$; Loss of $Li_2O$;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 E. J. Karell, K. V. Gourishankar, J. L. Smith, L. S. Chow, L. Redev, "Separation of Actinides from LWR Spent Fuel Using Molten-Salt-Based Electrochemical Process", Nucl. Technol., 136(3), pp. 342-353 (2001).
2 J. M. Hur, C. S. Seo, S. S. Hong, D. S. Kang, S. W. Park, "Metallization of U3O8 via Catalytic Electrochemical Reduction with Li2O in LiCl Molten Salt", React. Kinet. Catal. Lett., 80(2), pp. 217-222 (2003).   DOI
3 S. M. Jeong, H. S. Shin, S. H. Cho, J. M. Hur, H. S. Lee, "Electrochemical Behavior of a Platinum Anode for Reduction of Uranium Oxide in a LiCl Molten Salt", Electrochim. Acta, 54, pp. 6335-6340 (2009).   DOI   ScienceOn
4 S. D. Herrmann, S. X. Li, "Separation and Recovery of Uranium Metal from Spent Light Water Reactor Fuel via Electrolytiv Reduction and Electrorefining", Nucl. Technol., 171(3), pp. 247-265 (2010).
5 S. M. Jeong, B. H. Park, J. M. Hur, C. S. Seo, H. S. Lee, K. C. Song, "An Experimental Study on an Electrochemical Reduction of an Oxide Mixture in the Advanced Spent-Fuel Conditioning Process", Nucl. Eng. Technol. 42(2), pp. 183-192 (2010).   DOI   ScienceOn
6 Y. Sakamura, M. Kurata, T. Inoue, "Electrochemical Reduction of $UO_{2}$ in Molten $CaCl_{2}$ or LiCl", J. Electrochem. Soc., 153(3), pp. D31-39 (2006).   DOI   ScienceOn
7 J. M. Hur, S. M. Jeong, H. S. Lee, "Underpotential Deposition of Li In a Molten LiCl-$Li_{2}O$ Electrolyte for the Electrochemical Reduction of U from Uranium Oxides", Electrochem. Comm., 12, pp. 706- 709 (2010).   DOI   ScienceOn
8 B. H. Park, J. M. Hur, "Behavior of Diffusing Elecmets from an Integrated Cathode of an Electrochemical Reduction Process", Korean J. Chem. Eng., 27(4), pp. 1278-1283 (2010).   DOI   ScienceOn
9 B. H. Park, J. M. Hur, H. S. Lee, "A Chemical Reaction Calculation and a Semi-Emperical Model for the Dynamic Simulation of an Eletrolytic Reduction of Spent Oxide Fuels", J. Kor. Rad. Waste Soc., 8(1), pp. 19-32 (2010).
10 G. K. Moiseev, N. A. Vatolin, "Interaction of Lithium Zirconate with Lithium under Equilibrium Conditions", Phys. Chem., 388(4), pp. 505-509 (2003).
11 E. Y. Choi, J. M. Hur, I. K. Choi, S. G. Kwon, D. S. Kang, S. S. Hong, H. S. Shin, M. A. Yoo, S. M. Jeong, "Electrochemical reduction of porous 17 kg uranium oxide pellets by selection of an optimal cathode/anode surface area ratio", J. Nucl. Mater., 418, pp. 87-92 (2011).   DOI   ScienceOn
12 A. M. Abdelkader, A. Daher, R. A. Abdelkareem, E. El-Kashif, "Preperation of Zirconium Metal by the Electrochemical Reduction of Zirconium Oxide", Metall. Mater. Trans. B., 38B, pp. 35-44 (2007).
13 K. S. Mohandas, D. J. Fray, "Electrochemical Deoxidation of Solid Zirconium Dioxide in Molten Calcium Chloride", Metall. Mater. Trans. B., 40B, pp. 685-699 (2009).