Interaction between UN and CdCl2 in Molten LiCl–KCl Eutectic. II. Experiment at 1023 K

Abstract

The interaction between UN and CdCl2 in the LiCl–KCl molten eutectic was studied at 1023 K. The chlorination was monitored by sampling and recording the redox potential of the medium. At 1023 K the chlorination of UN with cadmium chloride in the molten LiCl–KCl eutectic proceeds completely and results in the formation of uranium chlorides. The melts of the LiCl–KCl–UCl3 or LiCl–KCl–UCl4 compositions can be obtained by the end of experiment depending on the presence of metallic cadmium in the reaction zone. The higher the concentration of the chlorinating agent, the faster the reaction rate. At [CdCl2]/[UN] = 1.65 (10% excess) the reaction proceeds to completion in about 7.5 h. At [CdCl2]/[UN] = 7 the complete chlorination takes 2.5–3 h. © 2021.