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Electrolytic Reduction of Uranium Oxide in Molten Fluoride Baths in Small Electrolytic Cells

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Thorium—Energy for the Future

Abstract

Use of molten fluoride salt towards electrolytic reduction of actinides and lanthanides by molten salt electrolysis is of interest for problems related to metallic nuclear fuels. Electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide for producing uranium metal has also assumed importance because of the introduction of AVLIS in the nuclear fuel cycle. Feasibility of electrolytic reduction of uranium oxide in molten fluoride melts has been demonstrated in laboratory scale electrolytic cells. Experiments were performed to study the effect of variation of size of the cell, anode and cathode configurations, liquid cathode materials, anode materials and different electrolytes. Reproducible feasibility results with different forms of uranium oxide and liquid cathodes have been demonstrated.

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Correspondence to Nagaraj Alangi .

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Alangi, N., Mukherjee, J., Anupama, P. (2019). Electrolytic Reduction of Uranium Oxide in Molten Fluoride Baths in Small Electrolytic Cells. In: Nayak, A., Sehgal, B. (eds) Thorium—Energy for the Future. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2658-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2658-5_10

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-2657-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-2658-5

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