Zirconium and hafnium separation with molten salt extraction in Sn–Cu–Zr–Hf and Cu–Zr–Hf alloy systems
L. Xu (TU Delft - OLD Metals Processing, Microstructures and Properties, Northeastern University China)
Y. Xiao (Zr-Hf-Ti Metallurgie B.V., Anhui University of Technology)
A. van Sandwijk (Zr-Hf-Ti Metallurgie B.V.)
Z. Zhao (Anhui University of Technology)
J. Li (School of Materials and Metallurgy, Liaoning University of Science, TU Delft - OLD Metals Processing, Microstructures and Properties)
Q. Xu (Shanghai University, School of Materials Science and Engineering)
Y. Yang (TU Delft - (OLD) MSE-3, Anhui University of Technology)
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Abstract
Chemical-grade zirconium contains about 1–3 wt% hafnium, which is harmful for nuclear applications due to its high neutron-capture cross section. In the present paper, Zr-Hf separation in Sn-Cu-Zr-Hf and Cu-Zr-Hf alloy systems using molten salt containing CuCl2 or CuF2 was thermodynamically evaluated and lab-scale experiments on zirconium and hafnium separation in different molten salt systems were conducted. The best single-step Hf removal efficiency and Zr-Hf separation factor of about 95% and 9.0, respectively, were obtained with a NaCl-CaCl2-CuCl2 (3 wt%) molten salt system at 850°C and the CuCl2/Hf stoichiometric ratio of 1.5.
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