The CNRS Research Program on the Thorium cycle ... - Pacen - IN2P3
The CNRS Research Program on the Thorium cycle ... - Pacen - IN2P3
The CNRS Research Program on the Thorium cycle ... - Pacen - IN2P3
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<strong>Thorium</strong> Cycle – Molten Salt Reactors June 2008<br />
Stage 2.b in Fig.9. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> principle of this extracti<strong>on</strong> is given in <strong>the</strong> right part of Fig.11 which gives <strong>the</strong><br />
redox potential of many elements by liquid bismuth (o<strong>the</strong>r metals than Bi can be and will be tested). It<br />
is seen that a selective extracti<strong>on</strong> of actinides is possible when an external potential of -4.4V is<br />
imposed. All elements whose potential lies above -4.4V are extracted while <strong>the</strong> lanthanides remain in<br />
<strong>the</strong> salt phase. If Zr turns out to be undesirable for <strong>the</strong> operati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> reactor, it will have to be<br />
extracted first. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> following sequence of chemical extracti<strong>on</strong>s can thus be envisaged: Zr first <strong>the</strong>n Pa-<br />
Am-Pu-Pa (as well as remaining U and Np) and finally Ln.<br />
Changing <strong>the</strong> compositi<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> metal (Bi) bath (noted in Fig.9 as x% and y% (x