Electrochemical studies on the reduction behaviour of Th4+ in molten LiCl-KCl eutectic. (10th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pakhui, Gurudas; Chandra, Manish; Ghosh, Suddhasattwa; Reddy, B. Prabhakara; Nagarajan, K.
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 155(2015)
• Page Start: 372
• Page End: 382
• Publication Date: 2015-02-10
• Subjects: molten chlorides -- thorium chloride -- transient electrochemical techniques -- convolution voltammetry -- Impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2014.12.144
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Abstract: The electrochemistry of Th 4+ ions was studied in LiCl-KCl eutectic in the temperature range 698–803 K and compared with literature data. Various transient electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, square-wave voltammetry were used to determine diffusion co-efficient of Th 4+ and apparent standard electrode potential for Th 4+ /Th electrode process. The electrode kinetics of Th 4+ /Th couple was also investigated by convolution voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy. Based on the above studies, the reversibility of Th 4+ /Th couple was addressed. The feasibility of electrochemical separation of uranium and thorium in LiCl-KCl eutectic is also discussed in this paper. It was seen that the separation of U from Th matrix was difficult in molten LiCl-KCl using a solid rod cathode and suitable reactive electrodes need to be used for efficient separation.