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Abstract: The electrochemical behavior of samarium ions was investigated in LiCl-KCl melt at molybdenum and aluminium electrodes using different electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetries, chronopotentiometry and open circuit chronopotentiometry. On Mo electrode the electroreduction process of Sm(III) to Sm(II) is reversible within the electroactive window. The reduction of Sm(II) is not observed in cyclic voltammogram, but it can be reduced on Al electrode by forming Al-Sm alloy. It is an effective approach to extract Sm from spent nuclear fuel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Mg–Pr bulk alloys were first fabricated by potentiostatic electrolysis in LiCl–KCl eutectic melts. [•] The electrochemical co-reduction mechanism of Mg, Pr and Li ions was determined by different electrochemical techniques. [•] The proportion of Pr element in Mg–Pr alloys was controlled by changing the concentration of PrCl3 in the melts during electrolysis process. [•] The ratio of Li element in Mg–Li–Pr alloys was regulated by changing the concentration of MgCl2 in the melts during electrolysis course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Gibbs energy showed that AlCl3 can chloridize Pr6O11 and release Pr(III) ions in the LiCl–KCl–Pr6O11–AlCl3 melts. The co-reduction process of Al(III), Pr(III) and Li(I) ions was investigated in the LiCl–KCl–Pr6O11–AlCl3 melts. Three signals, corresponding to different Al–Pr intermetallic compounds, were observed by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and open circuit chronopotentiometry. Potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrolysis were conducted to extract Pr element from LiCl–KCl eutectic melts by forming Al–Pr and Al–Li–Pr alloys, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that both Al–Pr and Al–Li–Pr alloys comprised Al2Pr phase. The composition of Al–Li–Pr alloys was analyzed by inductive coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The proportion of Pr element in Al–Li–Pr alloys exceeded 40wt.% when the concentration of AlCl3 reached 8wt.% in the LiCl–KCl–Pr6O11(1wt.%) melts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]