(Digital Presentation) Electrodeposition of Uranium Dioxide from Li 2 MoO 4 -K 2 MoO 4 -MoO 3 Based Melts: An Effect of Melt Composition

The effect of electrolysis conditions on the composition of cathodic products formed in Li 2 MoO 4 –K 2 MoO 4 –MoO 3 –UO 2 MoO 4 melts was investigated. The experiments were performed in the melts based on (1– x )(0.605Li 2 MoO 4 –0.395K 2 MoO 4 )– x MoO 3 mixtures ( x = 0.3–0.5) at 550–800 o C. Electrolysis was performed in the galvanostatic mode on platinum cathode. The initial current density was varied between 0.05–1 A/cm 2 . Depending on the electrolysis conditions the cathodic deposits consisted of UO 2+x , U 4 O 9–y , U 1,5 Mo 10 O 32 , Mo 2 UO 8 and MoO 2 phases. Phase composition and oxygen-to-uranium ratio were determined for the products obtained. Conditions allowed obtaining uranium oxide with minimal molybdenum contamination were determined, and confirmed by the bulk electrolysis runs.