Cathode processing

After the deposits are mechanically removed from the solid cathode rod or from the cathode crucible used at the electrorefining process, each deposit is heated in a ‘cathode processing’ step to separate the actinide metals by distillation of adhering salt and cadmium. As shown in Fig. 10.4, the vapour pressures of cadmium and chlorides are sufficiently higher than those of the actinide elements to be separated from them by distillation.

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T/°C

10.4 Equilibrium vapour pressures over relevant substances.