The influence of Lewis acid/base chemistry on the removal of gallium by volatility from weapons-grade plutonium dissolved in molten chlorides

D. F. Williams; G. D. Del Cul; L. M. Toth; E. D. Collins

doi:10.13182/NT01-A3252

The influence of Lewis acid/base chemistry on the removal of gallium by volatility from weapons-grade plutonium dissolved in molten chlorides

D. F. Williams, G. D. Del Cul, L. M. Toth, E. D. Collins

Radioisotope Science and Technology Divi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been proposed that GaCl₃ can be removed by direct volatilization from a Pu-Ga alloy that is dissolved in a molten chloride salt. Although pure GaCl₃ is quite volatile (boiling point: 201°C), the behavior of GaCl₃ dissolved in chloride salts is quite different because of solution effects and is critically dependent upon the composition of the solvent salt (i.e., its Lewis acid/base character). In this technical note, the behavior of gallium in prototypical Lewis acid and Lewis base salts is contrasted. It is found that gallium volatility is suppressed in basic melts and promoted in acidic melts. These results have an important influence on the potential for simple gallium removal in molten salt systems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	367-370
Number of pages	4
Journal	Nuclear Technology
Volume	136
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.13182/NT01-A3252
State	Published - Dec 2001

Keywords

Gallium volatility
Lewis acid
Mixed-oxide nuclear fuel

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title = "The influence of Lewis acid/base chemistry on the removal of gallium by volatility from weapons-grade plutonium dissolved in molten chlorides",

abstract = "It has been proposed that GaCl3 can be removed by direct volatilization from a Pu-Ga alloy that is dissolved in a molten chloride salt. Although pure GaCl3 is quite volatile (boiling point: 201°C), the behavior of GaCl3 dissolved in chloride salts is quite different because of solution effects and is critically dependent upon the composition of the solvent salt (i.e., its Lewis acid/base character). In this technical note, the behavior of gallium in prototypical Lewis acid and Lewis base salts is contrasted. It is found that gallium volatility is suppressed in basic melts and promoted in acidic melts. These results have an important influence on the potential for simple gallium removal in molten salt systems.",

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AU - Collins, E. D.

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N2 - It has been proposed that GaCl3 can be removed by direct volatilization from a Pu-Ga alloy that is dissolved in a molten chloride salt. Although pure GaCl3 is quite volatile (boiling point: 201°C), the behavior of GaCl3 dissolved in chloride salts is quite different because of solution effects and is critically dependent upon the composition of the solvent salt (i.e., its Lewis acid/base character). In this technical note, the behavior of gallium in prototypical Lewis acid and Lewis base salts is contrasted. It is found that gallium volatility is suppressed in basic melts and promoted in acidic melts. These results have an important influence on the potential for simple gallium removal in molten salt systems.

AB - It has been proposed that GaCl3 can be removed by direct volatilization from a Pu-Ga alloy that is dissolved in a molten chloride salt. Although pure GaCl3 is quite volatile (boiling point: 201°C), the behavior of GaCl3 dissolved in chloride salts is quite different because of solution effects and is critically dependent upon the composition of the solvent salt (i.e., its Lewis acid/base character). In this technical note, the behavior of gallium in prototypical Lewis acid and Lewis base salts is contrasted. It is found that gallium volatility is suppressed in basic melts and promoted in acidic melts. These results have an important influence on the potential for simple gallium removal in molten salt systems.

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KW - Lewis acid

KW - Mixed-oxide nuclear fuel

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The influence of Lewis acid/base chemistry on the removal of gallium by volatility from weapons-grade plutonium dissolved in molten chlorides

Abstract

Keywords

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