Quantitative analysis of barium and strontium in simulated oxide fuel during electrolytic reduction and salt distillation

Barium and strontium contents of alkaline-earth fission products in simulated oxide fuel were quantitatively analyzed during electrolytic reduction and salt distillation. Electrolytic reduction of the simulated oxide fuel was conducted at 650 °C in molten Li₂O–LiCl salt. The residual salt was then separated by salt distillation at 900 °C. Ba and Sr were partially separated from the simfuel and accumulated in the salt during oxide reduction. Ba and Sr levels of 0.21–0.56 wt% of their initial simfuel masses were found in the distilled salt; 2.28–3.34 wt% were found in the fuel remaining after the salt distillation.