Study on electrolytic reduction of pertechnetate in nitric acid solution for electrolytic extraction of rare metals for future reprocessing

Asakura, Toshihide; Kim, S.-Y.; Morita, Yasuji  ; Ozawa, Masaki*

An electrolytic extraction (EE) method, i.e. electro-reductive deposition, of Tc from nitric acid aqueous solution was studied for future reprocessing. After 30 min of constant potential electrolysis by carbon electrode at -0.3 V vs. SSE (Standard Silver Electrode), Tc concentration in 3 M nitric acid decreased to 93 % of the initial value, which corresponds to 7 % of deposition. With co-existence of Pd, the value reached to 15 % of deposition equivalent by electrolysis at 0.0 V vs. SSE for 60 min. An acceleration effect of Pd on Tc deposition (promoter effect) was suggested. The concentration, however, increased to the initial value after further electrolysis and competing re-dissolution of deposited Tc was also suggested. In cyclic voltammetry measurements, it was found that the deposit from Tc-Pd-Ru-Rh solution dissolved easier than that from Pd-Ru-Rh did. In electrolyzed Tc solution, an absorption peak at 482 nm was found. It can be attributed to the complex with nitrite anion, and the complex formation is proposed as one possible mechanism of Tc re-dissolution.