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Towards a Single Host Phase Ceramic Formulation for UK Plutonium Disposition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Martin C. Stennett ,
Neil C. Hyatt ,
Matthew Gilbert ,
Francis R. Livens  and
Ewan R. Maddrell
Martin C. Stennett
Affiliation:
Immobilization Science Laboratory, Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Neil C. Hyatt
Affiliation:
Immobilization Science Laboratory, Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.
Matthew Gilbert
Affiliation:
Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL.
Francis R. Livens
Affiliation:
Centre for Radiochemistry Research, School of Chemistry, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL.
Ewan R. Maddrell
Affiliation:
Nexia Solutions Ltd., Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, UK
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Abstract

The UK has a considerable stockpile of separated plutonium; a legacy of over 50 years of civilian nuclear programmes. This material has been considered both as an asset for future energy generation and a liability due to the proliferation threat. A proportion of the PuO2 stocks may be consumed by nuclear fission, in mixed oxide (MOx) or inert matrix (IMF) fuels but a quantity of waste PuO2 will remain which is unsuitable for fuel manufacture and will require immobilisation. A research program is currently underway to investigate the potential of various single phase ceramic formulations for the immobilisation of this waste PuO2 fraction. In this work a number of synthetic mineral systems have been considered including titanate, zirconate, phosphate and silicate based matrices. Although a wealth of information on plutonium disposition in some of the systems exists in the literature, the data is not always directly comparable which hinders comparison between different ceramic hosts. The crux of this research has been to compile a database of information on the proposed hosts to allow impartial comparison of the relative merits and shortcomings in each system.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1107: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXI , 2008 , 413
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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