Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC

Luke C Olson

Brenda L Garcia-Diaz

Joshua R Gray

Michael J Martinez-Rodriguez

Joseph A Teprovich, Jr

Hector R Colon-Mercado

Roderick E Fuentes

David W Babineau

Electrochemical cells and methods are described that can be utilized for the recovery of tritium directly from a molten lithium metal solution without the need for a separation or concentration step prior to the electrolytic recovery process. The methods and systems utilize an ion conducting electrolyte that conducts either lithium ion or tritide ion across the electrochemical cell.

Recovery of tritium from molten lithium blanket

A galvanic cell and methods of using the galvanic cell is described for the recovery of uranium from used nuclear fuel according to an electrofluorination process. The galvanic cell requires no input energy and can utilize relatively benign gaseous fluorinating agents. Uranium can be recovered from used nuclear fuel in the form of gaseous uranium compound such as uranium hexafluoride, which can then be converted to metallic uranium or UOand processed according to known methodology to form a useful product, e.g., fuel pellets for use in a commercial energy production system.

Galvanic cell for processing of used nuclear fuel

Electrochemical fluorination for processing of used nuclear fuel

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North Augusta, SC, United States of America

Luke C Olson