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Vitrification of High-Level Waste at the Savannah River Site

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

Kevin M. Fox  and
David K. Peeler
Kevin M. Fox
Affiliation:
Environmental & Chemical Process Technology, Savannah River National Laboratory Aiken, SC 29808U.S.A.
David K. Peeler
Affiliation:
Environmental & Chemical Process Technology, Savannah River National Laboratory Aiken, SC 29808U.S.A.
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Abstract

The objective of this study was to experimentally measure the properties and performance of a series of glasses with compositions that could represent high level waste Sludge Batch 5 (SB5) as vitrified at the Savannah River Site Defense Waste Processing Facility. These data were used to guide frit optimization efforts as the SB5 composition was finalized. Glass compositions for this study were developed by combining a series of SB5 composition projections with a group of candidate frits. The study glasses were fabricated using depleted uranium and their chemical compositions, crystalline contents and chemical durabilities were characterized. Trevorite was the only crystalline phase that was identified in a few of the study glasses after slow cooling, and is not of concern as spinels have been shown to have little impact on the durability of high level waste glasses. Chemical durability was quantified using the Product Consistency Test (PCT). All of the glasses had very acceptable durability performance. The results of this study indicate that a frit composition can be identified that will provide a processable and durable glass when combined with SB5.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1193: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXIII , 2009 , 229
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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References

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