Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T21:00:23.933Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Development Of A Glass-Encapsulated Ceramic Wasteform For The Immobilization Of Chloride-Containing ILW

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Brian L. Metcalfe ,
Shirley K. Fong  and
Ian W. Donald
Brian L. Metcalfe
Affiliation:
Materials Science Research Division, Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, U.K.
Shirley K. Fong
Affiliation:
Materials Science Research Division, Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, U.K.
Ian W. Donald
Affiliation:
Materials Science Research Division, Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, Berkshire, RG7 4PR, U.K.
Get access

Abstract

Pyrochemical reprocessing of plutonium generates several ILW waste-streams and a simple process has been developed at AWE to immobilize the chloride and actinide ions present in one of these waste-streams (Type 1) by calcining the waste with calcium phosphate. We have now investigated the possibility of using this process as the basis for treating a more complex waste-stream (Type 2) and have determined that with some minor modification the original process can effectively immobilize the greater range of cations present in Type 2 waste to again produce a free-flowing non-hygroscopic powder. Weight for weight replacement of the Type 1 waste by Type 2 produced a powder which was approximately 20% deficient in PO43- when compared with stoichiometric powder. Addition of phosphorus pentoxide to the simulant waste/calcium phosphate powder mixture prior to calcination to produce stoichiometric powder significantly improved the chloride ion uptake. In order to comply with safety requirements it is necessary to convert the free-flowing powder into a monolithic wasteform suitable for long term storage. Conversion of the powder to a monolithic wasteform by sintering using a sodium aluminophosphate glass as a binder has been investigated and has proved successful, but to achieve high densities it has been necessary to cold press the samples prior to sintering.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 807: Symposium Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXVII , 2003 , 255
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Donald, I. W., Metcalfe, B. L. and Taylor, R. N. J., J. Mater. Sci., 32 (1997), 5851.Google Scholar
2. Donald, I. W., Brenchley, M. E., Greedharee, R. S. and Metcalfe, B. L., Proc. XVIII Int. Cong. Glass, Symposium on Waste Materials Vitrification and Processing, edited by Choudhary, M. K., Huff, N. T. and Drummond, C. H., American Ceramic Soc (Westerville, Ohio), 1998, pp. 1–6.Google Scholar
3. Donald, I. W., Metcalfe, B. L., Brenchley, M. E. and Greedharee, R. S., Proc. Int. Confi. Ageing Studies and Lifetime Extension of Materials, edited by Mallinson, L. G., Klewer Academic / Plenum Publishing (New York), 2000, pp. 647–652.Google Scholar
4. Donald, I. W., Metcalfe, B. L., Brenchley, M. E. and Greedharee, R. S., Proc. XIX Int. Cong. Glass, Volume 2, Extended Abstracts, Society of Glass Technology (Sheffield), 2001, pp. 575–576.Google Scholar
5. Donald, I. W., Metcalfe, B. L. and Greedharee, R. S., Mat. Res. Symp. Proc. Vol. 713, MRS, 2002, pp. 287–293 Google Scholar
6. Donald, I. W., Metcalfe, B. L., Scheele, R. D. and Strachan, D. M., Proc. 10th. Int. Ceramics Congr., 2002, in the press.Google Scholar
7. Metcalfe, B. L., Donald, I. W., Scheele, R. D. and Strachan, D. M., Mat. Res. Symp. Proc. Vol. 757, MRS, 2003, in the press.Google Scholar