Study on a recovery of rare earth oxides from a LiCl-KCl-RECl sub(3) system

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials 2011-01, Vol.408 (1), p.110-115
• Main Authors: Eun, H C, Cho, Y Z, Park, H S, Lee, T K, Kim, I T, Park, KI, Lee, H S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-3115
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2010.11.021

Radioactive rare earth chlorides in waste LiCl-KCl molten salts have to be separated as a stable form to minimize waste volume and to achieve stable solidification. In this work, thermal behavior of rare earth chlorides (CeCl sub(3), GdCl sub(3), NdCl sub(3), PrCl sub(3)) was investigated in an oxygen condition to recover rare earth oxides from a LiCl-KCl-RECl sub(3) system. The rare earth chlorides in the LiCl-KCl molten salts were smoothly converted to an oxychloride form at a higher temperature than 650 degree C, except for CeCl sub(3). CeCl sub(3) was totally converted to an oxide from at a higher temperature than 450 degree C. The rare earth oxychlorides (GdOCl, NdOCl, PrOCl) were effectively converted to oxide forms at a higher temperature than 1100 degree C. It was confirmed that rare earth oxides can be recovered from a LiCl-KCl-RECl sub(3) system without impurity generation.