Electrochemical cell for metal production

A metal and battery technology, applied in the field of electrochemical batteries for metal production, can solve the problems of producing by-products

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-07-13
BRITISH NUCLEAR FUELS PLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] The disadvantage of the lithium reduction method for the preparation of metal feedstock from oxides is the by-product Li 2 o

Method used

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  • Electrochemical cell for metal production
  • Electrochemical cell for metal production

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Embodiment Construction

[0022] To practice an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, an electrolytic cell was assembled using a metal oxide comprising spent nuclear fuel, having a carbon anode, a mesh cathode basket and a cathode rail post connector welded to the base of the cell. Radiation oxide fuel is placed in mesh baskets. The electrolyte consists of a molten salt or a mixture of such salts, such as CaCl 2 or BaCl 2 of chloride salts. A voltage is applied between the cathode and anode. The reaction at the cathode involves the diffusion of oxygen atoms to the solid surface, followed by ionization according to the following formula:

[0023]

[0024] The generated oxygen ions dissolve into the electrolyte and are transported to the anode where they are reoxidized to produce oxygen, CO or CO 2 gas. The cathodic potential can be controlled via a third reference electrode, thus ensuring that the reaction occurring at the cathode is the ionization of oxygen rather than the precip...

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for the reduction of metal oxides to a metallic state comprising cathodic electrolysis of the oxide in the presence of a molten electrolyte salt while controlling the cathodic potential to favor the ionization of oxygen on the metal precipitated from the cations of the molten salt , the invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out said process, said apparatus having no bolt or screw fittings, comprising an electrochemical cell comprising a housing or housing, a cathode container and a cathode connector, wherein said housing or housing Keep as cathode. The method is capable of reducing metal oxides to their metallic state in a single electrochemical process, while only oxygen is produced as a by-product, which provides a more practical, efficient, and economically viable process for A method of producing metals from oxides. The metal solids produced can be removed or used directly as feedstock for the electrorefining process. In other embodiments, the electrolytic ionization of oxygen and said electrorefining process can be performed in the same cell and in the same salt system.

Description

Field of invention: [0001] The present invention relates to a method for the production of metals from oxides present in spent nuclear fuel, which method is particularly suitable for the preparation of actinides, especially uranium. The method of the present invention can be used to treat irradiated fuel to produce metallic actinides suitable as feedstock for subsequent electrorefining processes. Background of the invention: [0002] In the prior art, two methods of treating irradiated nuclear fuel using molten salts have been developed. The term "molten salt" as used herein is meant to include salts such as lithium chloride which melt at high temperatures, and also ionic liquids which are usually liquid at room temperature or which melt when the temperature reaches about 100°C. [0003] The Dimitrovgrad SSC-RIAR method uses chemical oxidants (chlorine and oxygen) to react with high-energy uranium dioxide fuel to form higher oxidation state compounds such as UO 2 Cl 2 , s...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): G21C19/44C25C3/34C25C7/00G21C1/00G21C19/42
CPCC25C3/34C25C7/005G21C19/42Y02E30/30
Inventor 罗伯特·格林·莱温罗伯特·查尔斯·蒂德
Owner BRITISH NUCLEAR FUELS PLC
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