Laboratory development of the grind-leach process for the H.T.G.C.R. fuel cycle, Part 1 - dissolution of urania-thoria fuel particles in nitric acid solutions.
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Date
1965-09
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Publisher
Australian Atomic Energy Commission
Abstract
The dissolution of 5 w/o UO2 in ThO2 fuel particles in nitric acid — fluoride solutions is a function of the Th02 dissolution rate. The Th02 dissolution rate has an apparent first order dependency on nitric acid concentration and a fractional order dependency on fluoride ion concentration. The apparent activation energy of the dissolution of the Th02 in 13M nitric acid — 0-05M fluoride is 19 kcal/mole. The presence of metal ions such as zirconium, aluminium, and beryllium inhibits the dissolution of the thoria. The order of inhibiting power is ZrlV > AlIII > BeII and this order is the same as the stability of their simplest fluoro — complexes,
The addition of small quantities of sulphate also seriously inhibits the dissolution, precipitating thorium as Th(S04)2 , 4H20 and quantitatively removing the fluoride.
Description
Keywords
Grinding, Leaching, Fuel cycle, Fuel particles, Nitric acid, Uranium, Thorium
Citation
Farrell, M. S., & Isaacs, S. R.(1965). Laboratory development of the grind-leach process for the H.T.C.G.R. fuel cycle, part 1 - dissolution of urania- thoria fuel particles in nitric acid solutions (AAEC/E143). Lucas Heights, NSW: Research Establishment, Australian Atomic Energy Commission.