A study on the reduction of uranium oxide to uranium metal in LiCl molten salt

Research for the analysis on a metallization process of uranium oxide in LiCl-Li molten salt was carried out. Effect of a concentration of Li2O on the metallization process was also studied. The new concept, electrochemical reduction of uranium oxide in LiCl-Li2O molten salt was proposed. The concept is based on the integrated process of metallization of UO2 with simultaneous electrochemical reduction of Li2O which is recycled in a closed system. In a LiCl-Li molten salt system, U3O8 whose conversion ratio to U turns out to be 97.1%, showed a better metallization characteristic than UO2. It is verified that electrochemically reduced Li is well deposited on the UO2 powder cathode through a porous magnesia filter in LiCl-Li2O molten salt. In that process Li2O was from by the reduction process of UO2 to U. This electrochemical reduction process showed good results to covert UO2 to U