Abstract
An experimental and theoretical investigation of the reactions of thorium and ThCl 4 with UO 2 and (Th,U)O 2 in fused KCl-LiCl and NaCl-MgCl 2 eutectic salts has been carried out. The equilibrium ThCl 4 + ThO 2 ⇄ 2ThOCl 2 has been considered in some detail and the maximum solubility of ThOCl 2 as a function of the ThCl 4 concentration in KCl-LiCl calculated. The activity coefficient of ThOCl 2 was estimated from experimental data. Similar calculations were made for the solubility of UOCl 2. The reaction of ThCl 4 with UO 2 involves three independent reactions. The equilibrium concentration of components in KCl-LiCl salt for the overall reaction Th + UO 2 → ThO 2 + U can be described in terms of two independent reactions and the experimental data are consistent with available thermodynamic data. The reduction of UO 2 and (Th,U)O 2 to produce uranium and ThO 2 has been demonstrated. Methods for separating the uranium from the ThO 2 precipitate are considered briefly.
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