Bagheri Narges, Nosratinia Ferial, Zahakifar Fazel, Yousefi Taher
Department of Chemical Engineering, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.
Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O. Box: 11365-8486, Tehran, Iran.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 27;15(1):18536. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03675-4.
Co-precipitation is a widely used technique for producing thorium-based fuels. In this method, the characteristics of the final product are significantly affected by the operating parameters. This study investigates the effects of operational parameters on the properties of thorium ThO-30 wt%UO powder using oxalate precipitation. The parameters examined include the reaction temperature, stirrer type, and precipitant concentration. The results indicate that temperature, as the most important factor, has a profound effect on the size, morphology, and crystallinity of particles. Reducing the temperature produced smaller particles with a more spherical shape and increased agglomeration. Furthermore, the use of an ultrasonic stirrer doubled the particle size, whereas higher oxalic acid concentrations improved particle homogeneity and thickness. The products obtained exhibit particle sizes ranging from 0.4 to 2 μm and specific surface areas between 16 and 36 m/g. These results demonstrate the importance of precise control over the synthesis conditions of oxalate precipitates. The optimal selection of the operating parameters can significantly improve the physical and structural properties of mixed oxide powders.
共沉淀法是一种广泛用于生产钍基燃料的技术。在该方法中，最终产物的特性会受到操作参数的显著影响。本研究使用草酸盐沉淀法研究操作参数对钍 ThO-30 wt%UO 粉末性能的影响。所考察的参数包括反应温度、搅拌器类型和沉淀剂浓度。结果表明，温度作为最重要的因素，对颗粒的尺寸、形态和结晶度有深远影响。降低温度会产生更小、形状更球形且团聚增加的颗粒。此外，使用超声搅拌器会使颗粒尺寸加倍，而较高的草酸浓度可改善颗粒的均匀性和厚度。所获得的产物颗粒尺寸范围为 0.4 至 2μm，比表面积在 16 至 36 m/g 之间。这些结果证明了精确控制草酸盐沉淀合成条件的重要性。操作参数的最佳选择可显著改善混合氧化物粉末的物理和结构性能。
