Immobilization of {sup 99}Tc in low-temperature phosphate ceramic waste forms

Conference · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:555407

Singh, D; Mandalika, V; Wagh, A; Strain, R; Tlustochowicz, M ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States). Energy Technology Div.

Radionuclides such as {sup 99}Tc are by-products of fission reactions in high-level wastes. Technetium poses a serious environmental threat because it is easily oxidized into its highly leachable pertechnetate form. Magnesium potassium phosphate ceramics have been developed to treat {sup 99}Tc that has been separated and eluted from simulated high-level tank wastes by sorption processes. Dense and hard ceramic waste forms were fabricated by acid-base reactions between mixtures of magnesium oxide powders and wastes, and acid phosphate solutions. Standard leaching tests, such as ANS 16.1 and the Product Consistency Test, were conducted on the final waste forms to establish their performance. The fate of the contaminants in the final waste forms was established with scanning electron microscopy techniques. In addition, stability of the waste forms in aqueous environments was evaluated by long-term water immersion tests.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 555407
• Report Number(s): ANL/ET/CP--92582; CONF-970568--11; ON: DE97053534
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CERAMIC MELTERS
CERAMICS
CORROSION RESISTANCE
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
LEACHING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
SOLIDIFICATION
TECHNETIUM 99
WASTE FORMS