Separation factor of americium from cerium in molten chloride - Liquid gallium reductive extraction system

Abstract

The distribution coefficients of Am and Ce were measured in the eutectic LiCl-KCl/liquid Ga system at 773K. By using ZrCl4 as the oxide ion scavenger in order to avoid the formation of such oxychlorides as MO (n-2)+, the effect of oxide ion concentration was well controlled on the distribution coefficients of Am and Ce. The separation factor between Am and Ce was then obtained to be about 100. By comparing the present value with the other experimental and the predicted ones, it was confirmed that the Ga system was more selective than the Bi and Cd system.