Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed

Zirconium Metal Recovery from Zircaloy in Molten Fluorides

¹ Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
² Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
³ Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
⁴ Université de Montpellier, Marcoule, France
⁵ Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France

Materials Sciences and Applications·Volume 15 (2024)·Pages 559–571·Published 31 December 2024·DOI10.4236/msa.2024.1512037

Abstract

This article focuses on the electrorefining process in molten fluorides to selectively recover zirconium from one Zr-based metallic alloy involved in the field of nuclear energy: Zircaloy-4. Firstly, zirconium electrodeposition was investigated in molten LiF-NaF at 750˚C in order to determine appropriate operating conditions to ensure Zr metal recovery: concentration and applied current density. Then, anodic behaviour of Zircaloy-4 was studied and compared to its composing elements. These results allowed us to define an adapted electrorefining strategy. Electrorefining progress, anodic and cathodic faradic efficiencies were evaluated by materials characterization obtained after galvanostatic electrolyses.

KeywordsMolten FluoridesZirconiumZircaloy-4ElectrorefiningDissolution Pathway

Towner, R.R. (1992) International Strategic Minerals Inventory Summary Report. Zirconium, U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey.
Morize, P., Baicry, J. and Mardon, J. (1987) Effect of Irradiation at 588 K on Mechanical Properties and Deformation Behavior of Zirconium Alloy Strip. In: Adamson, R.B. and Van Swam, L.F.P., Eds., Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry , ASTM International, 101-119. https://doi.org/10.1520/stp28110s
Whitmarsh, C.L. (1962) Review of Zircaloy-2 and Zircaloy-4 Properties Relevant to N. S. Savannah Reactor Design. Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Massot, L., Bieber, A.L., Gibilaro, M., Cassayre, L., Taxil, P. and Chamelot, P. (2013) Silicon Recovery from Silicon-Iron Alloys by Electrorefining in Molten Fluorides. Electrochimica Acta , 96, 97-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2013.02.065
Ghosh, S., Vandarkuzhali, S., Venkatesh, P., Seenivasan, G., Subramanian, T., Prabhakara Reddy, B., et al . (2009) Electrochemical Studies on the Redox Behaviour of Zirconium in Molten LiCl-KCL Eutectic. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry , 627, 15-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2008.12.011
Lee, C.H., Kang, K.H., Jeon, M.K., Heo, C.M. and Lee, Y.L. (2012) Electrorefining of Zirconium from Zircaloy-4 Cladding Hulls in LiCl-KCL Molten Salts. Journal of The Electrochemical Society , 159, D463-D468. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.012208jes
Sakamura, Y. (2004) Zirconium Behavior in Molten LiCl-KCL Eutectic. Journal of The Electrochemical Society , 151, C187. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.1644605
Fabian, C.P., Luca, V., Le, T.H., Bond, A.M., Chamelot, P., Massot, L., et al . (2012) Cyclic Voltammetric Experiment—Simulation Comparisons of the Complex Mechanism Associated with Electrochemical Reduction of Zr 4+ in LiCl-KCL Eutectic Molten Salt. Journal of The Electrochemical Society , 160, H81-H86. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.016302jes
Groult, H., Barhoun, A., El Ghallali, H., Borensztjan, S. and Lantelme, F. (2008) Study of the Electrochemical Reduction of Zr 4+ Ions in Molten Alkali Fluorides. Journal of The Electrochemical Society , 155, E19. https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2811848
Gibilaro, M., Massot, L., Chamelot, P., Cassayre, L. and Taxil, P. (2013) Investigation of Zr(IV) in LiF-CaF 2 : Stability with Oxide Ions and Electroreduction Pathway on Inert and Reactive Electrodes. Electrochimica Acta , 95, 185-191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2013.02.022

Menu

Zirconium Metal Recovery from Zircaloy in Molten Fluorides

Abstract

References (20)