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Chemistry of rare earth oxalate vitrification

Conference ·
OSTI ID:20015775

Mixtures of rare earth and actinide oxalates will be vitrified into boro-aluminosilicate-based glasses for intermediate term stabilization according to current plans. The reaction chemistry involved with converting these oxalate feed stocks into glass products determines the potential for foaming, redox, and other melt and off gas related phenomena associated with this process. The authors have undertaken a detailed study of this conversion process using a variety of complementary techniques. A closed quartz crucible contained in a vertical furnace equipped with a quartz window and video camera was used to study volume expansion of the feed/melt during heating while monitoring the off-gas using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses were conducted on small samples of feed and frit mixtures. Samples containing Ce were analyzed using established wet chemical techniques to determine Ce{sup 3+}:Ce{sup 4+} ratio (redox) as a function of temperature. The authors evaluate the results and provide a description of the reaction chemistry of these oxalate feeds during vitrification.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
20015775
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English