A molten salt reactor (MSR) has been designed with the capability of recovering lanthanide and actinide oxides from salt melts with varying concentrations of sodium molybdate and molybdenum trioxide at 700°C. The MSR encloses the molten salt solution using two nested quartz glass crucibles, the innermost crucible contains the salt and apparatus and the outer one is for containment in case the inner one fails, both placed inside an exterior graphite crucible. The platinum working electrodes used for the lanthanide oxide or actinide oxide deposition are easily interchangeable by removing and reinserting thin quartz electrode sheaths that extend down inside the innermost quartz crucible. To determine the capabilities of the MSR, the recovery of lanthanum oxide (La2O3), cerium oxide (CeO2), and uranium oxide (UO2) are separately investigated. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) taken during electrodeposition are used to measure the kinetic and diffusive characteristics of each reductive-oxidative reaction that occurs on the surface of the platinum electrodes. Square wave voltammograms (SWV) coupled with CVs of the reactions are used to determine the electron transfer mechanism between the individual oxide species in the sodium molybdate melt and the surface of the platinum electrode. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images are taken to record the topography of the platinum electrodes after electrodeposition of both (La2O3) and (CeO2).

Molten salt reactor designed for actinide recovery

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

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