지르코늄의 제련과 리사이클링

초록

Zirconium (Zr) is a critical metal that is essential for advanced industries such as nuclear power, and is only produced in France, the United States, Russia, China, and India. This study reviews the technologies associated with zirconium production, utilization, smelting, and recycling. Global annual zirconium production is only around 6,000 tonnes, over 80 % of which is used for nuclear power. Zirconium smelting methods are classified according to zircon decomposition and hafnium separation. The Kroll process is used in industrial zirconium production to reduce zirconium chloride (ZrCl4) using magnesium; however, new smelting methods such as molten salt electrolysis and metalothermic reduction are also being investigated. Scrap generated during the processing of zircaloy, which is used in nuclear power plants, can be used as an additive in alloys such as copper and aluminum. A single alloy in zirconium scrap does not require composition control and can be easily recycled by melting it down after simple cleaning. However, scrap from dissimilar alloys requires additional processing for recycling. Zirconium alloys used in nuclear power plants are classified as radioactive waste and cannot be recycled. Further research is needed to recover zirconium from these radioactive wastes.

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