Summary of INEL research on the iron-enriched basalt waste form

Technical Report · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5465754· OSTI ID:5465754

Reimann, G A; Grandy, J D; Eddy, T L; Anderson, G L

This report summarizes the knowledge base on the iron-enriched basalt (IEB) waste form developed at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) during 1979--1982. The results presented discuss the applicability of IEB in converting retrieved transuranic (TRU) waste from INEL's Radioactive Waste Management Complex (RWMC) into a vitreous/ceramic (glassy/rock) stable waste form suitable for permanent disposal in an appropriate repository, such as the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. Borosilicate glass (BSG), the approved high-level waste form, appears unsuited for this application. Melting the average waste-soil mix from the RWMC produces the IEB composition and attempting to convert IEB to the BSG composition would require additions of substantial B{sub 2}0{sub 3}, Na, and SiO{sub 2} (glass frit). IEB requires processing temperatures of 1400 to 1600{degrees}C, depending upon the waste composition. Production of the IEB waste form, using Joule heated melters, has proved difficult in the past because of electrode and refractory corrosion problems associated with the high temperature melts. Higher temperature electric melters (arc and plasma) are available to produce this final waste form. Past research focused on extensive slag property measurements, waste form leachability tests, mechanical, composition, and microstructure evaluations, as well as a host of experiments to improve production of the waste form. Past INEL studies indicated that the IEB glass-ceramic is a material that will accommodate and stabilize a wide range of heterogeneous waste materials, including long lived radionuclides and scrap metals, while maintaining a superior level of chemical and physical performance characteristics. Controlled cooling of the molten IEB and subsequent heat treatment will produce a glass-ceramic waste form with superior leach resistance.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5465754
• Report Number(s): EGG-WTD-10056; ON: DE92012510
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360606 -- Other Materials-- Physical Properties-- (1992-)
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METALS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
BASALT
CERAMICS
CESIUM
CHALCOGENIDES
DISSOLUTION
ELEMENTS
EVALUATION
GLASS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
IRON
LEAD
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MELTING
MERCURY
METALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ROCKS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM OXIDES
VISCOSITY
VITRIFICATION
VOLATILITY
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE FORMS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES