Effect of pulse electrolysis on morphology of co-deposited MOX granules

Kofuji, Hirohide  ; Okamura, Nobuo ; Mizuguchi, Koji*; Myochin, Munetaka

In the oxide electrowinning method of nuclear fuel recycling, the applicability of the pulse electrolysis method to the MOX co-deposition process was evaluated. Several experiments were conducted involving uranium, plutonium, and elements simulating fission product (FP) or corrosion product (CP). Through study of the results of these experiments, the influences of the impurities and the effect of the waveform of electrolysis pulses on the electro-deposit were clarified. As a result, pulse electrolysis conditions which could restrain Pu enrichment of the deposited MOX were confirmed. Furthermore, it was found that the element distribution in the MOX granule obtained by the pulse electrolysis was homogenized, which is well suited for nuclear fuel fabrication. Finally, a qualitative model of the pulse electrolysis reaction near the field of cathode surface is proposed.