Morphology and Composition of Simulant Waste Loaded Polymer Composite Phase Inversion, Encapsulation, and Durability

Conference · Mon Nov 03 00:00:00 EST 2003

OSTI ID:1060687

Smith, Harry D; Smith, Gary Lynn L; Xia, Gordon; Zelinski, Brian J

Because of their good physical and chemical durability, relatively high salt loading capacity, and low leachability, sol-gel-derived, organic-inorganic hybrid materials (polycerams) show promise as media that could be used to stabilize high salt wastes. Use of this technique has been hindered by the need for highly volatile and flammable organic solvents in the fabrication process. In an effort to overcome this hinderance, we carried out initial development of an alternative production approach based on an aqueous emulsion technology and a “phase inversion” phenomenon that results in encapsulation of the waste form. Our major interests focused on understanding the phenomena and optimizing fabrication methods to produce a final waste form with excellent waste stabilization characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy was used to obtain the microstructures of the waste forms for understanding the migration, distribution, and encapsulation of the salt in the waste forms. The leaching rate of the salt from a waste form was quantified by means of conductivity measurement.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1060687
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-37667
• Resource Relation: Conference: Environmental Issues and Waste Management Technologies in the Ceramic and Nuclear Industries VIII: Proceedings of the Symposium held at the 104th Annual Meeting of The American Ceramic Society, April 28-May 1, 2002 in St. Louis, Missouri. Ceramic Transactions, 143:371-376
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English