A novel purification method for fluoride or chloride molten salts based on the redox of hydrogen on a nickel electrode.

Abstract

A novel purification process was proposed for molten salts based on the polarization of a hydrogen electrode on nickel, i.e., H+/H2, Ni electrode. The features of the H+/H2, Ni electrode in typical chloride and fluoride molten salts were investigated. Consistent current electrolysis was performed in a feasible polarization range, and the deoxidation efficiency was higher than that of the traditional chemical or electrochemical purification methods in both chloride and fluoride molten salts. Only H2 was used as a purification source gas, and almost no toxic HF or corrosive HCl emissions were used or occurred in the new process. The application range of the proposed method was also discussed.