Review

  • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
  • Volume 10(4); 2012
  • Article

Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology 2012;10(4):229-236. Published online: Dec, 30, 2012

PDF Citation

DOI : 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

  • Wooshin Park ; Jin-Mok Hur ; Eun-Young Choi ; Jong-Kook Kim
Abstract

A molten salt technology using Li2O-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 Li2O. ZrO2 is inevitably contained in the spent fuels because Zr is one of the main components of fuel rod hulls. Therefore, the fate of ZrO2 in Li2O-LiCl molten salt has been investigated. It was found that Li2ZrO3 and Li4ZrO4 were formed chemically and electrochemically and they were not reduced to Zr. The recycling of Li2O is the key mechanism ruling the total reaction in the electrolytic reduction process. However, ZrO2 will have a role as a Li2O sink.

Keywords

Li2O-LiCl molten salt,Electrolytic reduction,ZrO2,Loss of Li2O