Vacuum distillation of a mixture of LiCl-KCl eutectic salts and RE oxidative precipitates and a dechlorination and oxidation of RE oxychlorides.
In this study, a vacuum distillation of a mixture of LiCl-KCl eutectic salt and rare-earth oxidative precipitates was performed to separate a pure LiCl-KCl eutectic salt from the mixture. Also, a dechlorination and oxidation of the rare-earth oxychlorides was carried out to stabilize a final waste form. The mixture was distilled under a range of 710-759.5Torr of a reduced pressure at a fixed heating rate of 4 degrees C/min and the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt was completely separated from the mixture. The required time for the salt distillation and the starting temperature for the salt vaporization were lowered with a reduction in the pressure. Dechlorination and oxidation of the rare-earth oxychlorides was completed at a temperature below 1300 degrees C and this was dependent on the partial pressure of O2. The rare-earth oxychlorides (NdOCl/PrOCl) were transformed to oxides (Nd2O3/PrO2) during the dechlorination and oxidation process. These results will be utilized to design a concept for a process for recycling the waste salt from an electrorefining process.
Eun
Hee Chul
HC
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Process R&D Group, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, P.O. Box 150-1 Yuseong, Daejeon 305-353, Republic of Korea. ehc2004@kaeri.re.kr
Yang
Hee Chul
HC
Cho
Yung Zun
YZ
Lee
Han Soo
HS
Kim
In Tae
IT
D006997:Hypochlorous Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000032:analysis*; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000032:analysis*; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D008674:Metals, Rare Earth; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid; D018021:Lithium Chloride