Study on Reduction of Neptunium and Uranium In Nitric Acid Solution Using Flow Type Electrolytic Cell, as a Basic Technique for Advanced Reprocessing Process

Abstract

The reduction of neptunium and uranium was studied using a flow type electrolytic cell containing a carbon-fiber column electrode. Np (VI) (10^-3 mol.l¹) in 3 mol.l^-1 HNO₃ solution was quantitatively reduced into Np (V) at the potential of 0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl using the cell. Reduction of U (VI) (0.1 mol.l^-1) into U (IV) with co-existing Np and Tc at –0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl in 6 mol.l^-1 HNO₃ solution was also demonstrated.