Electrochemical reduction behavior of a highly porous SIMFUEL particle in a LiCl molten salt

A highly porous SIMFUEL particle is prepared here for use as a feed material for electrochemical reduction. The prepared particles were found to have highly porous and sintered structure. The particles were electrolyzed in a LiCl-1 wt.% Li2O melt at 650 °C. A steel basket containing the particles and a platinum plate were used as a cathode and an anode, respectively. The analysis result reveals the reduction extent of uranium oxide to be in excess of 99%. The rare earth oxides were reduced to their metallic form in the range of 46–78%. The highly porous structure of the SIMFUEL particles is advantageous to speed up the electrochemical reduction process for pyroprocessing.

• A highly porous SIMFUEL particle was prepared as a feed material for electrochemical reduction. • Cathodic and anodic behaviors of the particles were observed. • The porous structure can speed up the electrochemical reduction. • The porous structure is helpful to achieve a high reduction extent of each element.