Lithium titanate pebbles reprocessing by wet chemistry

An original dissolution method for irradiated Li2TiO3 in aqueous H2O2 was d eveloped. One could easily obtain fine Li2TiO3 powders from the solution th rough 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, fr om which gelled microspheres of lithium titanate could be obtained. Locally prepared Li2TiO3 reprocessed and supplied pebble batches were tested for t ritium release by temperature programmed desorption (TPD) methods in He + 0 .1%H-2 (R-gas) after their short irradiations in a thermal neutron flux. Th e relative TPD data were compared. A qualitative correlation was developed between peak characteristics and pebble microstructure. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience B.V, All rights reserved.