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Immobilization of Separated Tc and Cs/Sr in Synroc

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

K. P. Hart ,
E. R. Vance ,
R. A. Day ,
B. D. Begg ,
P. J. Angel  and
A. Jostsons
K. P. Hart
Affiliation:
ANSTO, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
E. R. Vance
Affiliation:
ANSTO, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
R. A. Day
Affiliation:
ANSTO, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
B. D. Begg
Affiliation:
ANSTO, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
P. J. Angel
Affiliation:
ANSTO, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
A. Jostsons
Affiliation:
ANSTO, Menai, NSW 2234, Australia
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Abstract

In some radwaste applications, such as immobilization of U.S. Tank wastes using vitrification, Tc and Cs/Sr are likely to be separated out from HLW supernates. Simplified Synroc preparations can be devised for the immobilization of separated Tc and Cs/Sr, either together or individually. Under suitably reducing processing conditions, Tc can be immobilized, as metal or Tc4+. The volatility of Tc and Cs/Sr in Synroc processing is very restricted.

In Synroc-C, designed for Purex high-level reprocessing wastes, Tc exists as a metal alloy. In air-saturated water, normalized MCC-1 type total differential leach rates at 90°C decreased with leaching time and after 90 days were <10-4 g/m2/d, decreasing by a factor of ∼100 in anoxic conditions. The corresponding results in a pH=6.1 buffer solution were fairly similar to those in deionised water, but in anoxic conditions, the leach rates were higher in the buffer solution than in the deionised water.

A single perovskite phase was loaded with ∼40 wt% of TcO2 to form CaTc0.5Ti0.5O3 by a combination of graphite-die hot-pressing and heating in argon. Rutile, intended to be doped with ∼35wt% TcO2, was fabricated by bellows hot-pressing at 1200°C; aproximately 75% of the Tc formed a solid solution with rutile, but some metallic Tc was also present due to imperfect redox control. Results of both MCC-1 and PCT-type leach tests are presented on a preparation containing 70 wt% hollandite + 20 wt% perovskite + 10 wt% rutile containing about 5 wt% of Cs and Sr respectively. Phase distributions resulting from incorporating Cs and Sr in Synroc-B precursor were studied.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 412: Symposium V – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XIX , 1995 , 281
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1996

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