Use of porous MgO in pyrochemical applications

Pyrochemical methods for the extraction of transuranic elements from light water reactor spent fuel require a reduction step in which the oxide fuel is reduced to metals by Li in molten LiCl. The Li{sub 2}O formed is electrolytically reduced to metal in a cell that uses a carbon (or inert) anode and a Li cathode to recycle the salt and minimize the waste. Use of a carbon anode causes carbon dust that interferes with the process. Moreover, current efficiency is reduced as a result of oxidation of Li to Li{sub 2}O by CO{sub 2}. A porous MgO shroud around the anode was found to obviate these problems. Porous MgO crucibles and rectangular bar specimens were fabricated from MgO powders (electrically fused MgO, reagent grade MgO were mixed in appropriate combinations with a binder and lubricant). Particle size, force applied to the powders during cold pressing, and sintering temperature were varied to achieve a total porosity of >45% (mostly open porosity) and to control pore size and pore distribution. Mercury intrusion porosimetry was used to determine the pore size and pore size distribution. Flexural strength is observed to be proportional to the square root of pore size, which is consistent withmore » fracture mechanics.« less