FIELD: physics, atomic power.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to pyrochemical technologies of processing irradiated nuclear fuel, particularly oxide fuel. The method for non-current production of uranium (V) in molten alkali metal chlorides (NaCl-2CsCl, NaCl-KCl, LiCl-KCl), containing uranium (VI) ions, involves holding zirconium metal in the atmosphere over the melt as a getter at temperature of 550-750°C for 180-250 minutes Uranium (V) is formed via thermal decomposition of uranyl chloride, which is accelerated by zirconium metal as shown by recorded absorption spectra of the melt.
EFFECT: non-current production chloride melts with high content of uranium (V) without introducing foreign components into the melt.