Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 1992
The complexation and thermal behavior of pyruvic acid oxime (PAO) with representative cations associated with nuclear reprocessing waste has been investigated. This ligand has the dual advantage that it precipitates most of the cations from solution and these complexes decompose at ca. 150°C to CO2, acetonitrile, and, initially, the metal hydroxide. Introduction of the appropriate elements required for Synroc phases to a simulated waste stream followed by NaPAO and disodium fumarate leads to precipitation of a metalorganic Synroc precursor in which the components have been intimately mixed at the molecular level. This approach circumvents incorporation of alkali metals in the final ceramic.