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Characterisation and durability of glass composite waste forms immobilising spent clinoptilolite

Conference ·
OSTI ID:21294628
;  [1]
  1. Sheffield Univ., Immobilisation Science Lab., Sheffield (United Kingdom)
Simulated spent clinoptilolite was immobilised in a monolithic glass composite wasteform (GCM) produced by a pressureless sintering for 2 hours at relative low temperatures 750 deg. C. The GCM utilises the high durability of alkali borosilicate glass to encapsulate the Cs-impregnated clinoptilolite (Cs-Clino). With this approach mobile radionuclides are retained by a multi-barrier system, comprising the crystalline form of the clinoptilolite and the borosilicate glass Wastes loading ranging from 1:1 up to 1:10 glass to Cs-clino volume ratios corresponding to 37- 88 mass % were studied. Water durability of GCM was assessed in 7, 14 and 28 days leaching tests in deionised water at 40 deg. C based on ASTM C1220-98 standard. It was found that the normalised leaching rates of Cs remaining below 6.35 10{sup -6} g/cm{sup 2} day in a GCM with 73 mass % waste during a leaching test for 7 days. However, at higher waste loading of {>=}80 mass %, the normalised leaching rate of Cs was as high as 9.06 10{sup -4} g/cm{sup 2} day. The normalised leaching rate of Cs decreased within the 28 days of leaching. Microstructure and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDS) analysis of the GCM with 1:1 glass to Cs-clino vol. ratio shows that there were no changes in phases identified as well as elements present in GCM after 28 days leaching test. The compression strength of the GCM was found to be in a range from 85.5 at waste loading 80 mass % - 394.2 MPa at waste loading 37 mass %. (authors)
Research Organization:
WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
OSTI ID:
21294628
Report Number(s):
INIS-US--09-WM-07051
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English