铝合金化技术在乏燃料干法后处理中的应用研究进展

干法后处理在未来先进核燃料循环中将发挥关键作用。由美国开发的熔盐电精炼流程是目前最具应用前景的干法后处理流程之一,但是锕系元素(An)与镧系元素(Ln)的高效分离仍然是该流程目前亟待解决的关键科学与技术问题之一。研究表明,An与Ln形成铝合金时沉积电位差较大,采用固态铝电极电解有望实现An与Ln的有效分离,从而更好地服务于分离-嬗变策略。本文针对铝合金化技术在乏燃料干法后处理中的应用研究进展进行综合阐述,重点介绍铝合金化在熔盐电精炼中的应用研究,主要包括Ln和An的铝合金化行为、An和Ln的铝合金化分离等几个方面。

Research Progress on Molten Salt Electrorefining Process by Forming Aluminum Alloys

Pyrometallurgical process is one of the most promising options for the advanced nuclear fuels cycle.Up to now,the molten salt electrorefining process,which was developed by Argonne National Laboratory(ANL),is the most practical pyrometallurgical process.However,the complete separation of actinides(An) from lanthanides(Ln) is still a challenge for the typical electrorefining process.The current investigations show that the deposition potential gaps of actinides and lanthanides on the solid Al cathode are bigger than those on other active cathodes,and therefore the separation of actinides from lanthanides by forming Al-An alloys are more promising for the partitioning and transmutation.This review is focused on the research progress concerning the separation of An from Ln by forming An-Al alloys for the pyrometallurgical process,and is involved in the following main parts:electrochemical behaviour of Ln on the formation of Ln-Al alloys;electrochemical behaviour of An on the formation of An-Al alloys;and the separation of An from Ln by forming An-Al alloys.