{open_quotes}Framatome technologies` vitrification process{close_quotes}
One of the major difficulties encountered in vitrifying low- and medium-activity radioactive wastes is ensuring that volatile components, such as cesium (Cs), are integrated into the requisite waste glass matrix and not carried over, in vapor or particulate form, into the off-gas system. The inability to retain these volatile components within the glass matrix can result in radioactive carryover into the off-gas system requiring separate treatment and/or extraction processes. This difficulty is of particular concern in vitrifying wastes that generate large amounts of gas or vapor when broken down by heat. In these cases, the gases or vapors generated may transport the volatile particles or vapors into the off-gas system before they can be integrated into the glass matrix of even before they come in contact with the liquid glass medium, such as in the {open_quotes}cold-cap{close_quotes} vitrification process. This phenomenon is further aggravated if the waste is in the form of a fine, easily entrained powder or contains excessive moisture, such as in spent resins in bead or powder form, sludges, or concentrates.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); CENTEC-21, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 269327
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR--106079; CONF-951244--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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