Calculation model for separating a mixture of plutonium, americium, and curium in NaCl–2CsCl melt

Abstract

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators for biomedical purposes require high-purity ²³⁸Pu. The present article examines a model for its production in NaCl–2CsCl eutectic melt. For this purpose, physicochemical properties of plutonium, americium, and curium treated with an oxygen-chlorine-argon mixture in NaCl-2CsCl melt were studied at the JSC “SRC RIAR” (Dimitrovgrad, Russian Federation). The developed model provides for determining the modes of plutonium dioxide precipitation without americium and curium, as well as for assessing its possible contamination with actinides.