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The Containment of Fission Product Iodine in the Reprocessing of Lmfbr Fuels by Pyrochemical Reactions

M. Krumpelt, J. J. Heiberger, V. A. Maroni, M. J. Steindler

Nuclear Technology / Volume 15 / Number 3 / September 1972 / Pages 391-395

Technical Paper / Chemical Processing / dx.doi.org/10.13182/NT72-A16036

The reaction of elemental iodine with liquid zinc and the reaction of Znl2 with molten chloride salt have been studied. These reactions, which occur when fission product iodine is released into a zinc-salt melt during the pyrochemical decladding of fuel elements, appear to be very rapid. The mechanism is postulated to include conversion of zinc iodide to a zinc chloride complex. The presence of zinc chloride in the melt has been verified by Raman spectroscopy. The results of laboratoryscale experiments suggest that the process for decladding LMFBR fuels in a zincsalt melt may be capable of effectively retaining fission product iodine in an easily disposable form.