Characterization of radioactive waste melter feed vitrified by microwave energy

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5790643

Jantzen, C M; Cadieux, Jr, J R

Liquid high-level nuclear waste will be immobilized at the Savannah River Site (SRS) by vitrification in borosilicate glass. The glass will be processed in the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) and poured into stainless steel canisters for eventual disposal in a geologic repository. Vitrification of melter feed samples is necessary for DWPF process and product control. Microwave fusion of melter feed at {approximately}1200{degrees}C for 10 minutes has been shown to yield homogeneous glasses comparable to those melted in a conventional furnace for 4 hours. Microwave fusion at lower temperatures for longer times was found to crystallize spinel. The use of higher temperatures was determined to cause significant volatilization and recrystallization of the glass. Redox measurements indicated that microwave vitrification of melter slurries may also yield more representative measures of glass redox than conventional melting.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 5790643
• Report Number(s): WSRC-MS-91-010; CONF-910430--25; ON: DE92009589
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052000* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Management
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BOROSILICATE GLASS
CERAMIC MELTERS
DISPERSIONS
ELECTRIC FURNACES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FURNACES
GLASS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MIXTURES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SLURRIES
SUSPENSIONS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VITRIFICATION
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES