Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society (전기화학회지)

The Korean Electrochemical Society (한국전기화학회)
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Electrolytic Reduction Characteristics of Titanium Oxides in a LiCl-Li2O Molten Salt

LiCl-Li2O 용융염에서 타이타늄 산화물의 전해환원 특성

  • Received : 2015.07.29
  • Accepted : 2015.09.01
  • Published : 2015.11.30
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Abstract

Experiments using a metal oxide of a non-nuclear material as a fuel are very useful to develop a new electrolytic reducer for pyroprocessing. In this study, the titanium oxides (TiO and $TiO_2$) were selected and investigated as the non-nuclear fuel for the electrolytic reduction. The immersion tests of TiO and $TiO_2$ in a molten 1.0 wt.% $Li_2O$-LiCl salt revealed that they have solubility of 156 and 2100 ppm, respectively. Then, the Ti metals were successfully produced after the separate electrolytic reduction of TiO and $TiO_2$ in a molten 1.0 wt.% $Li_2O$-LiCl salt. However, Ti was detected on the platinum anode used for the electrolytic reduction of $TiO_2$ unlike TiO due to the dissolution of $TiO_2$ into the salt.

파이로프로세싱 전해환원은 사용후핵연료의 재활용을 위해 우라늄산화물을 금속으로 전환하는 공정으로 핵물질을 사용하기 이전에 대체 금속산화물을 이용한 실험을 통해 환원 장치의 성능을 평가하고 개선한다. 본 연구에서는 전해환원 장치 개발을 위한 대체 금속산화물로 타이타늄 산화물(TiO와 $TiO_2$)을 선정하고 $650^{\circ}C$의 $Li_2O$-LiCl 용융염에서의 용해도 및 전해환원 특성을 평가하였다. 1.0 wt.% $Li_2O$-LiCl 용융염에서 TiO와 $TiO_2$의 침지 실험을 통해 두 산화물 모두 염에 일부 용해됨을 확인하였는데, $TiO_2$(2100 ppm)가 TiO(156 ppm)에 비해 더 높은 용해도를 보였다. 1.0 wt.% $Li_2O$-LiCl 용융염에서 TiO와 $TiO_2$의 전해환원을 각각 수행하여 Ti 금속을 성공적으로 제조하였다. 그러나 염 내 용해도가 낮은 TiO는 환원에 사용된 백금 양극 표면에서 Ti이 검출되지 않은 반면 $TiO_2$의 백금 표면에서는 Ti이 검출되었다.

Keywords

References

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