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Plutonium Feed Impurity Testing in Lanthanide Borosilicate (LaBS) Glass

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Kevin M. Fox ,
James C. Marra ,
Thomas B. Edwards ,
Elizabeth N. Hoffman  and
Charles L. Crawford
Kevin M. Fox
Affiliation:
Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC, U.S.A.
James C. Marra
Affiliation:
Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC, U.S.A.
Thomas B. Edwards
Affiliation:
Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC, U.S.A.
Elizabeth N. Hoffman
Affiliation:
Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC, U.S.A.
Charles L. Crawford
Affiliation:
Savannah River National Laboratory, Aiken, SC, U.S.A.
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Abstract

A vitrification technology utilizing a lanthanide borosilicate (LaBS) glass is a viable option for dispositioning excess weapons-useable plutonium that is not suitable for processing into mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. A significant effort to develop a glass formulation and vitrification process to immobilize plutonium was completed in the mid-1990s. The LaBS glass formulation was found to be capable of immobilizing in excess of 10 wt % Pu and to be tolerant of a range of impurities. A more detailed study is now needed to quantify the ability of the glass to accommodate the anticipated impurities associated with the Pu feeds now slated for disposition.

The database of Pu feeds was reviewed to identify impurity species and concentration ranges for these impurities. Based on this review, a statistically designed test matrix of glass compositions was developed to evaluate the ability of the LaBS glass to accommodate the impurities. Sixty surrogate LaBS glass compositions were prepared in accordance with the statistically designed test matrix. The heterogeneity (e.g. degree of crystallinity) and durability (as measured by the Product Consistency Test – Method A (PCT–A)) of the glasses were used to assess the effects of impurities on glass quality.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1107: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXI , 2008 , 397
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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