Acceleration of Glass Alteration Rates Induced by Zeolite Seeds at Controlled pH

Journal Article · Mon Feb 03 04:00:00 EST 2020 · Applied Geochemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2019.104515· OSTI ID:1582398

Neeway, James J. ^[1]; Parruzot, Benjamin PG ^[1]; Bonnett, Jeff F. ^[1]; Reiser, Joelle TG ^[1]; Kerisit, Sebastien N. ^[1]; Ryan, Joseph V. ^[1]; Crum, Jarrod V. ^[1]

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1. BATTELLE (PACIFIC NW LAB)

As the glass-water reaction proceeds, certain glass compositions undergo a delayed acceleration in the alteration rate – a phenomenon that is commonly referred to as Stage III behavior – which generally coincides with zeolite formation. However, studying Stage III in the laboratory is difficult because the time scale required to observe Stage III behavior can vary from months to several years, and the solution conditions that initiate this acceleration remain poorly understood. Consequently, the development of a corrosion test method capable of quantifying Stage III rates in a timely manner would be of great benefit to both the scientific community and policy makers concerned with nuclear waste disposal. In this work, we induced and measured the acceleration in the corrosion rate of the AFCI glass by seeding static corrosion tests with zeolite Na-P2 at fixed pH90°C values ranging from 9.5 to 11.5. The induced Stage III rates increased linearly with increasing pH and were measured to be between the forward and residual rates of AFCI. Tests designed to compare induced Stage III rates obtained for different seeding times showed that the induced Stage III rates were faster in the absence of an alteration layer. In summary, the use of the seeded test method allows for a conservative quantification of Stage III rates in a relatively short, one-month time period.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1582398
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-148595
• Journal Information: Applied Geochemistry, Journal Name: Applied Geochemistry Vol. 113
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English