Physicochemical features of lanthanide halide molten salt solutions

Mixing enthalpy in LnX(3)-MX liquid systems (M=alkali metal, X=halide) has been analysed. This enthalpy is negative in all systems. The maximum of the absolute value of molar mixing enthalpy depends on the ionic radius of lanthanide(III) and alkali metal cations as well as on the ionic radius of halide anion. The smaller the ionic radius of Ln(3+), the larger the maximum of the absolute value of mixing enthalpy. This maximum increases also with the ionic radius of the alkali metal cation. Finally it decreases with the increase of the ionic radius of the common halide anion. The results of mixing enthalpy measurements are compared with electrical conductivity of LnX(3)-MX liquid mixtures and discussed in terms of complex formation in these melts. All experimental results concerning both LnX(3) and LnX(3)-MX binary systems (temperatures and enthalpies of phase transitions, heat capacity, mixing enthalpies and phase diagrams) are subsequently used in an optimization procedure in order to obtain self-consistent sets of thermodynamic data characterizing these systems. The optimization of the TbBr3-KBr binary system is reported as an example. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.