Separation of Zr metal from $LiF-BeF_2-ZrF_4$ Molten Salt by Electrowinning

A study on the separation of Zr metal from (67-27-6 mol%) molten salt was carried out using electrowinning. The decomposition potentials of the (72-28 mol%) and the (67-27-6 mol%) molten salts were measured to be -1.55 and -1.35 volt, respectively. The Zr separation voltage from the salt were found to be in a range of -1.4 -1.5 volt. As increasing applied current, the deposition of molten salt on a cathode increases but the current efficiency decreases. In addition, the deposition and current efficiency decreases with increasing temperature.