Abstract
The effects of temperature and composition on the structures and transport properties of UCl3-LiCl-KCl salts were systematically investigated by using molecular dynamics simulation with a polarizable force field. In the molten salt of pure UCl3, there exist networks of [UCln] (n = 6, 7, 8, …) clusters, dominated by corner-sharing, Cl-linked [UCl8]5−. The networks became sparser with the UCl3 concentration decreasing. The local structures of U3+ complexes in LiCl-KCl salts were also compared with that of typical fission products such as Sc3+, Y3+, La3+ and Tb3+. It is found that the local structures of the U3+ complexes in LiCl-KCl were very similar to that of La3+, while the U-Cl coordination bonds were less stable than that of Y-Cl, Sc-Cl, and Tb-Cl complexes. Finally, two basic transport properties, diffusion coefficient and viscosity of UCl3-LiCl-KCl were predicted to a broader range than the previous reported data. These results help to understand the underlying mechanisms related to the pyrochemical processing for separation of trivalent uranium ions from other fission product ions in LiCl-KCl salts.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.