Waste form evaluation for RECl 3 and REO x fission products separated from used electrochemical salt

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Progress in Nuclear Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2017.09.005· OSTI ID:1422291

Riley, Brian J. ; Pierce, David A.; Crum, Jarrod V.; Williams, Benjamin D.; Snyder, Michelle M. V.; Peterson, Jacob A.

The work presented here is based off the concept that the rare earth chloride (RECl3) fission products mixture within the used electrorefiner (ER) salt can be selectively removed as RECl3 (not yet demonstrated) or precipitated out as REOCl through oxygen sparging (has been demonstrated). This paper presents data showing the feasibility of immobilizing a mixture of RECl3’s at 10 mass% into a TeO2-PbO glass and it shows that this same mixture of RECl3’s can be oxidized to REOCl at 300°C and then to REOx by 1200°C. When the REOx mixture is heated at temperatures >1200°C, the ratios of REOx’s change. The mixture of REOx was then immobilized in a LABS glass at a high loading of 60 mass%. Both the TeO2-PbO glass and LABS glass systems show good chemical durability. The advantages and disadvantages of tellurite and LABS glasses are compared.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1422291
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-124232; 830403000
• Journal Information: Progress in Nuclear Energy, Vol. 104, Issue C; ISSN 0149-1970
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English