Lithium titanate pebbles reprocessing by wet chemistry

An original dissolution method for irradiated Li2TiO3 in aqueous H2O2 was developed. One could easily obtain fine Li2TiO3 powders from the solution through drying and calcination. Li2TiO3 pebbles (size similar to0.6 mm, above 90% TD) were obtained from the 'reprocessed' powders. These solutions were also suitable for the formation of a sol emulsion in 2-ethyl-hexanol-1, from which gelled microspheres of lithium titanate could be obtained. Locally prepared Li2TiO3 reprocessed and supplied pebble batches were tested for tritium release by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) methods in He + 0.1%H-2 (R-gas) after their short irradiations in a thermal neutron flux. The relative TPD data were compared. A qualitative correlation was developed between peak characteristics and pebble microstructure. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.