Separation of the adjacent lanthanide (Ln) pair such as Sm-Eu from each other using chemical methods is difficult due to their similar chemical features. In the present work, electrochemical separation of Eu and Sm from each other were studied in molten LiCl-KCl-1 wt% EuCl 3 -1 wt% SmCl 3 at 500 °C. By using a Cu reactive electrode, Sm was selectively separated from the salt because of the formation of several Cu-Sm intermetallic compounds while Eu remained in the salt. The formation of Al-Eu compounds occurs at a more negative potential than that of the Al-Sm compounds on Al electrode. However, the formation rate of Al-Eu compound is much higher than that of Al-Sm compound. With an electrolysis time of 0.5 h and a potential at −2.225 V (vs Ag(I)/Ag), the deposit on the electrode is mainly made up of Al-Eu compound. This study reveals the influence of working electrode on Eu-Sm separation and provides a potential method for adjacent lanthanide pair separation.

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The fundamental kinetic parameters of corrosion product ions (Fe, Ni and Cr ions) are of significant importance to understand the corrosion mechanisms of the structural materials in the molten salts. In the present study, the fundamental data of Fe2+, Ni2+, Cr2+ and Cr3+ (diffusion coefficient D, exchange current density i 0, charge transfer coefficient α, limiting current density i L and standard rate constant k 0) were measured at different concentrations (1.53 × 10−6−7.48 × 10−4 mol cm−3) and temperatures (600 °C–800 °C). The values of D are independent of concentrations and follow Arrhenius law with temperature, which descend in the order of D C r 2 + > D F e 2 + > D C r 3 + > D N i 2 + , with values ranging from 0.94 × 10−5 to 3.31 × 10−5 cm2 s−1. Both i 0 and k 0 depend on the temperatures, which also follow Arrhenius law. The values of the estimated k 0 descend in the order of k C r 2 + 0 > k F e 2 + 0 > k N i 2 + 0 > k C r 3 + 0 , which range from 1.88 × 10−5 to 9.06 × 10−4 cm s−1.

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