Electrochemical control of multi crystal formation from clay mineral in molten NaCl-CaCl

Honda, Mitsunori   ; Sakanaka, Yoshihide*; Goto, Takuya*; Suzuki, Shinichi; Yaita, Tsuyoshi

Separation and collection of Cs-sorbing weathered biotite (WB) has been investigated by using molten salt electrochemistry under an electrochemical reductive condition. In the cyclic voltammogram measurement, several oxidation-reduction peaks were observed in the range of +0.5 V to -2.2 V. The peak at -1.4 V was assigned to a reduction reaction of Fe. The sample was fixed at -1.4 V in order to reduce Fe for 2 hours at 700 degree. X-ray fluorescence analysis indicates that Cs was completely removed from the WB. The structure of the WB was determined using X-ray diffraction techniques and local structure of Fe was analyzed using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). The WB completely decomposed and hematite formation was suppressed after the electrochemical reaction and calcite, augite, and wadalite formation were confirmed. On the basis of this finding, we propose the separation / collection method by using molten salt electrochemistry.