| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
High Temperature Electrochemistry V
|
| Presentation Title |
A Revised High Temperature Synthesis of UCl3 via Reaction of U with FeCl2 |
| Author(s) |
Jacob Allen Yankey, Jarom Chamberlain, Marisa Monreal, Matt Jackson, Michael Simpson |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jacob Allen Yankey |
| Abstract Scope |
To synthesize NaCl-MgCl2-UCl3 mixtures with a specific concentration of UCl3 for accurate electrochemical and vapor pressure measurements, a new method of U chlorination was devised and tested. Reaction of U metal directly immersed in molten salt with FeCl2 has previously been reported to form UCl3 (1.5FeCl2(liq.) + U(s) = UCl3(liq.) + 1.5Fe(s)) with iron particles separable using a magnet. This process is complicated by the need for nested crucibles, a high temperature magnet, and pouring molten salt. A process improvement is reported here in which U metal is contained in a stainless steel basket while immersed in the salt. Iron dendrites form on the basket via galvanically coupled reactions. Reaction progress was monitored via open circuit potential difference between the basket and a reference electrode. Salt samples were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry indicating 89.5% yield with final concentrations of 6.19 wt.% U and 0.12 wt.% Fe. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Electrometallurgy, High-Temperature Materials |