The electrical conductivity of model melts based on LiCl-KCl, used for the processing of spent nuclear fuel

During pyrochemical reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, complex melts based on LiCl-KCl eutectic are formed, but their properties are still not well studied. We measured the electrical conductivity of (LiCl-KCl)eut. − CeCl3, (LiCl-KCl)eut. − NdCl3 and (LiCl-KCl)eut. − UCl3 quasi-binary melts was up to 40 mol.% CeCl3, 40 mol.% NdCl3 and 10.45 mol.% UCl3 in a wide temperature span. In addition the electrical conductivity of several compositions, such as (LiCl-KCl)eut. − CeCl3 + NdCl3 and (LiCl-KCl)eut. − CeCl3 + NdCl3 + UCl3 was measured. The measurements were carried out in quartz cells of the capillary type. When the total concentration of trivalent ions is less than 12 mol.%, we found that the conductivity of mixtures of arbitrary composition is almost a linear function of CeCl3, NdCl3, and UCl3 the overall concentration.