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Vitreous Materials for Nuclear Waste Immobilisation and IAEA Support Activities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2017

Rebecca A. Robbins  and
Michael I. Ojovan
Rebecca A. Robbins*
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Energy, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria
Michael I. Ojovan
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Energy, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria
*
*(Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Vitreous materials are the overwhelming world-wide choice for the immobilisation of HLW resulting from nuclear fuel reprocessing due to glass tolerance for the chemical elements found in the waste as well as its inherent stability and durability. Vitrification is a mature technology and has been used for high-level nuclear waste immobilization for more than 50 years. Borosilicate glass is the formulation of choice in most applications although other formulations are also used e.g. phosphate glasses are used to immobilize high level wastes in Russia. The excellent durability of vitrified radioactive waste ensures a high degree of environment protection. Waste vitrification gives high waste volume reduction along with simple and cheap disposal facilities. Although vitrification requires a high initial investment and then operational costs, the overall cost of vitrified radioactive waste is usually lower than alternative options when account is taken of transportation and disposal expenses. Glass has proven to be also a suitable matrix for intermediate and low-level radioactive wastes and is currently used to treat legacy waste in USA, and NPP operational waste in Russia and South Korea. This report is also outlining IAEA activities aiming to support utilisation of vitreous materials for nuclear waste immobilisation.

Keywords

Sicorrosionwaste management
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 1 , Issue 63-64: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXIX , 2016 , pp. 4201 - 4206
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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References

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