Incorporation of simulated high-level nuclear waste in gel spheres

Technical Report · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6900390· OSTI ID:6900390

Arnold, W. D.; Bond, W. D.; Robinson, S. M.

Gel sphere technology developed for reactor fuel fabrication was applied to the fixation of simulated high-level radioactive waste in crystalline ceramic form for permanent disposal. Gel spheres containing simulated alkaline defense waste sludges and ceramic matrix materials were prepared by internal gelation at waste loadings as high as 90%. The gel spheres were amenable to subsequent drying, sintering, and coating procedures to produce crystalline waste forms with extremely high leach resistances. Potential application of this technique to the processing of commercial power reactor waste was demonstrated by incorporating simulated Purex solvent extraction waste in gel spheres with up to 20% waste loading. Cesium present in the simulated waste was adsorbed on zeolite and immobilized by coating with carbon.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6900390
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-8124; ON: DE83004171
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SOLIDIFICATION
CERAMICS
GELATION
GELS
SPHERES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTES
052001* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Processing