Alkali and alkaline-earth fluoride salts have the potential to be used as 1) heat transfer fluids for power generation and 2) as solvents for fissile material in molten salt reactors (MSRs). However, because of their hygroscopicity, these salts tend to be corrosive to structural alloys due to in situ formation of corrosive hydrofluoric (HF) acid in the presence of water. Reliable methods to quantify low level oxygen and hydrogen in these salts have not been developed or require impractical conditions such as the use of explosive oxidizers. Quantification of oxygen and hydrogen has been routinely done in organic and inorganic samples using commercial combustion analysis instruments. Quantification of oxygen and hydrogen in halide salts using combustion methods is challenging due to formation of corrosive gases which can damage the internal parts of the instrument and produce inconsistent results. In this presentation, we will show our methodology for reproducible quantification of oxygen and hydrogen in fluoride salts using commercial combustion analysis. In addition, quantification of impurity anionic species in halide salts, such as SO42-, NO3-, CO32-, Br-, etc., will be presented.

Analysis of oxygen, water and inorganic anions in fluoride salts

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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