LiCl-KCl熔盐体系中UCl3的合成研究

Study on Reaction Mechanism of Uranium Metal and Cadmium Chloride in LiCl-KCl Eutectic Molten Salt

  • 摘要: 为充分掌握LiCl-KCl熔盐体系中,氯化镉(CdCl2)与金属铀(U)反应生成高浓度三氯化铀(UCl3)的过程及其机理,本文基于快堆乏燃料高燃耗、高超铀元素含量等特点,针对高浓度UCl3的合成需求,采用热力学计算、电化学监测和原位吸收光谱技术,分析该反应的热力学可行性、反应动力学及UCl3的合成机制。结果表明,500 ℃下,CdCl2能有效氧化金属铀,生成U3+,进而形成UCl3,副产物为金属镉。热力学计算和实验验证表明,反应主要生成UCl3,未观察到高价铀化物(如UCl4、UCl5等)的生成。随着反应的进行,熔盐中UCl3浓度逐渐增加,而Cd2+浓度不断降低,最终达到平衡。电化学测试和原位吸收光谱法结果表明,UCl3为主要产物,且没有出现明显的U4+或U5+等高价铀物质。在实验过程中,通过反应优化,成功制备了高浓度(50.86%)UCl3的LiCl-KCl熔盐体系,并通过稀释方法,获得了适用于电解精炼的初始熔盐。以上结果表明,CdCl2与金属铀反应生成高浓度UCl3的方法是可行的,为乏燃料电解精炼工艺的LiCl-KCl-UCl3熔盐体系制备提供理论和技术支持。

     

    Abstract: The synthesis of high-concentration uranium trichloride (UCl3) was investigated through the reaction of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) with metallic uranium (U) in a LiCl-KCl eutectic molten salt system. This process is particularly relevant to nuclear fuel reprocessing, as the production of UCl3 is essential for efficient uranium electrorefining. The study aimed to investigate the thermodynamic feasibility, reaction dynamics, and synthesis mechanism of UCl3 in LiCl-KCl molten salt system. Thermodynamic calculations were performed to predict the likely reaction pathways and the equilibrium conditions. Electrochemical monitoring and in-situ absorption spectroscopy were employed to observe the concentration changes of uranium and cadmium species during the reaction. The experimental results demonstrate that CdCl2 was capable of oxidizing metallic uranium to U3+, leading to the formation of UCl3. Metallic cadmium (Cd) is produced as a byproduct. As the reaction proceeded, the concentration of UCl3 in the molten salt increases steadily, while the concentration of Cd2+ decreases over time. The process reaches equilibrium after a certain period. Thermodynamic calculations confirm that the reaction was energetically favorable for the formation of UCl3. No higher-valent uranium compounds, such as UCl4 or UCl5, are observed in the reaction, which is consistent with the experimental data. The electrochemical analysis reveals a clear transition in the oxidation states of uranium, from U to U3+, as the reaction progressed. In addition, in-situ absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor the formation of UCl3 in real-time. The results confirm that UCl3 is the dominant product formed during the reaction. No significant formation of U4+ or U5+ is detected, further validating the thermodynamic predictions. The formation of UCl3 is accompanied by a gradual decrease in the concentration of Cd2+, which is reduced to metallic Cd and deposited at the bottom of the reaction vessel. The high concentration of UCl3 (50.86%) is successfully achieved, and the LiCl-KCl-UCl3 molten salt system was subsequently used as the initial electrolyte for uranium electrorefining experiments. The results of this study demonstrate that synthesizing UCl3 using CdCl2 and metallic uranium is both thermodynamically and electrochemically feasible. This provides important technical support for the preparation of molten salt electrolytes in uranium electrorefining. The study also highlights the potential for recycling cadmium by reducing Cd2+ to metallic cadmium, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the process. Overall, the findings of this research contribute to the advancement of molten salt electrorefining technology for nuclear fuel reprocessing and offer valuable insights for future industrial applications.

     

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