Issue 6, 2022

Simultaneous measurement of lithium isotope and lithium/beryllium ratios in FLiBe salts using MC-ICP-MS

Abstract

Fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature nuclear reactors (FHR) use solid nuclear fuel and molten salt as a coolant for energy production. The mixture of 2LiF–BeF2 (FLiBe) is used as the heat transfer fluid in the reactor primary loop due to favorable thermophysical properties and nuclear cross sections. While the salt composition is defined by the stoichiometric formula (Li2BeF4), variations in the Li/Be ratio can have large effects on the properties of the salt. Previous methods used to characterize salt composition are well-suited for trace element contaminant levels, but typical uncertainties in concentration measurements result in high uncertainty (∼5–8%) in the Li/Be ratio. Measurement of elemental ratios in analyte materials can be achieved through either direct concentration measurements or isotope dilution. Certain elements, such as beryllium, preclude the use of isotope dilution for concentration determination for practical reasons. Here, we provide a new method for high precision characterization of the Li/Be ratio in FLiBe using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). To achieve this, we produced gravimetric standards with independently characterized Li/Be ratios as reference standards for use in sample-standard bracketing analytical techniques. Results for FLiBe with previously reported compositions show that the Li/Be ratios measured by MC-ICP-MS are more precise and accurate than traditional concentration measurements. When combined with trace metal analysis by sector field (SF) ICP-MS, the new method provides a path forward for additional characterization of synthesized FLiBe for use in molten salt nuclear reactors.

Graphical abstract: Simultaneous measurement of lithium isotope and lithium/beryllium ratios in FLiBe salts using MC-ICP-MS

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 мар 2022
Accepted
04 май 2022
First published
05 май 2022

J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2022,37, 1193-1202

Simultaneous measurement of lithium isotope and lithium/beryllium ratios in FLiBe salts using MC-ICP-MS

S. R. Scott, F. Carotti, A. Kruizenga, R. O. Scarlat, S. Mastromarino and M. M. Shafer, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2022, 37, 1193 DOI: 10.1039/D2JA00097K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements