Rare earth removal from pyroprocessing fuel product for preparing MSR fuel

Abstract

A series of experiments were performed to produce a fuel source for a molten salt reactor (MSR) through pyroprocessing technology. A simulated LiCl–KCl–UCl3-NdCl3 salt system was prepared, and the U element was fully recovered using a liquid cadmium cathode (LCC) by applying a constant current. As a result, the salt was purified with an UCl3 concentration lower than 100 ppm. Subsequently, the U/RE ingot was prepared by melting U and RE metals in Y2O3 crucible at 1473 K as a surrogate for RE-rich ingot product from pyroprocessing. The produced ingot was sliced and used as a working electrode in LiCl–KCl–LaCl3 salt. Only RE elements were then anodically dissolved by applying potential at −1.7 V versus Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The RE-removed ingot product was used to produce UCl3 via the reaction with NH4Cl in a sealed reactor.