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Updated: Sep 27, 2025

Determination of Thermodynamic Properties of Alkaline Earth-liquid Metal Alloys Using the Electromotive Force Technique
Published on: November 3, 2017
Distribution and behaviour of 233Pa in 2LiF-BeF2 molten salt
Zhongqi Zhao1,2,3, Jifeng Hu1,2,3, Zhiqiang Cheng1,2,3
1Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201800 China.
Abstract:
Distribution and behavior of 233Pa, essential in the thorium-uranium nuclear fuel cycle, were studied in 2LiF-BeF2 (66 : 34 mole%, FLiBe) molten salt by γ-ray spectrometry. The experiments showed that 233Pa deposited slightly on the surface of graphite crucible. The addition of Hastelloy and metallic lithium decreased the 233Pa specific activity in the salt by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude rapidly. Analysis indicated that reductive deposition of 233Pa was responsible for the rapid decrease of 233Pa specific activity in the salt. Additional experiments strongly supported the mechanism of reductive deposition of 233Pa induced by Hastelloy and metallic lithium. In view of the large deposition of 233Pa on Hastelloy, the possible influence of fissile nuclide 233U produced from 233Pa decay on the operation of thorium-based molten salt reactor was discussed.
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