| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2020 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Process Metallurgy and Electrochemistry of Molten Salts, Liquid Metal Batteries, and Extra-terrestrial Materials Processing: An EPD Symposium in Honor of Don Sadoway
|
| Presentation Title |
Application of Electronically Mediated Metallothermic Reductions in Molten Salts to Nuclear Materials |
| Author(s) |
Michael F. Simpson, Prashant Bagri, Jarom Chamberlain |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Michael F. Simpson |
| Abstract Scope |
In 1999, Okabe and Sadoway published a seminal paper that explained metallothermic reduction in molten salts as an electronically mediated reaction. In the subsequent decades, this class of reactions has been applied to numerous nuclear materials-related processes. Examples include beryllium redox control in molten LiF-BeF<sub>2</sub>, direct electrolytic reduction of UO<sub>2</sub> in molten LiCl-Li<sub>2</sub>O, and galvanic reduction of UCl<sub>3</sub> in molten LiCl-KCl. These reactions have enormous potential for impact on the future of nuclear energy, as they can support fusion, recycling of conventional nuclear fuel, and minimization of waste from molten salt fueled fission reactors. This presentation will review these reactions, present some of the interesting results obtained from our experimental investigations, and relate those results to the theory of electronically mediated metallothermic reduction. Each electronically mediated reaction will be classified as short range, long range, or both with the consequences discussed. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Supplemental Proceedings volume |