Controlled separation of Ce and Gd elements in the LiCl–KCl molten salt system
摘要
In nuclear reactors, nuclear fuel undergoes a complex fission process, Ce and Gd are fission products generated directly from the fissile materials. Generally, Ce and Gd are difficult to separate individually due to their similar chemical properties. In this study, a method to achieve the separation and co-reduction of Ce and Gd in LiCl–KCl molten salt system at 873 K is presented. It is found that Gd could be separated by electrolysis at −2.0 V, and Ce and Gd could be co-reduced at −2.4 V. A relatively pure product could be obtained by the potentiostatic electrolysis (PE) mode.