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Title: Compositional Dependence of Solubility/Retention of Molybdenum Oxides in Aluminoborosilicate-Based Model Nuclear Waste Glasses

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. B, Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces and Biophysical Chemistry
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [5];  [6]; ORCiD logo [7]; ORCiD logo [3]
  1. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States); Washington State University
  2. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
  3. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States)
  4. Corning Research & Development Corporation, Corning, NY (United States)
  5. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
  6. Univ. of Sheffield (United Kingdom)
  7. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States) ; Univ. of Sheffield (United Kingdom)

We present that molybdenum oxides are an integral component of the high-level waste streams being generated from the nuclear reactors in several countries. Although borosilicate glass has been chosen as the baseline waste form by most of the countries to immobilize these waste streams, molybdate oxyanions (MoO42-) exhibit very low solubility (~1 mol %) in these glass matrices. In the past three to four decades, several studies describing the compositional and structural dependence of molybdate anions in borosilicate and aluminoborosilicate glasses have been reported in the literature, providing a basis for our understanding of fundamental science that governs the solubility and retention of these species in the nuclear waste glasses. However, there are still several open questions that need to be answered to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that control the solubility and retention of these oxyanions in glassy waste forms. This article is focused on finding answers to two such questions: (1) What are the solubility and retention limits of MoO3 in aluminoborosilicate glasses as a function of chemical composition? (2) Why is there a considerable increase in the solubility of MoO3 with incorporation of rare-earth oxides (for example, Nd2O3) in aluminoborosilicate glasses? Accordingly, three different series of aluminoborosilicate glasses (compositional complexity being added in a tiered approach) with varying MoO3 concentrations have been synthesized and characterized for their ability to accommodate molybdate ions in their structure (solubility) and as a glass-ceramic (retention). The contradictory viewpoints (between different research groups) pertaining to the impact of rare-earth cations on the structure of aluminoborosilicate glasses are discussed, and their implications on the solubility of MoO3 in these glasses are evaluated. Lastly, a novel hypothesis explaining the mechanism governing the solubility of MoO3 in rare-earth containing aluminoborosilicate glasses has been proposed.

Research Organization:
Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
Grant/Contract Number:
NE0008431; NE0008597
OSTI ID:
1485490
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. B, Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces and Biophysical Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. B, Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces and Biophysical Chemistry Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 122; ISSN 1520-6106
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Swift heavy ion-irradiated multi-phase calcium borosilicates: implications to molybdenum incorporation, microstructure, and network topology journal June 2019
Elucidating the formation of Al–NBO bonds, Al–O–Al linkages and clusters in alkaline-earth aluminosilicate glasses based on molecular dynamics simulations journal January 2019
Crystallization behavior of iron- and boron-containing nepheline (Na 2 O·Al 2 O 3 ·2SiO 2 ) based model high-level nuclear waste glasses journal August 2018
Crystallization study of rare earth and molybdenum containing nuclear waste glass ceramics journal March 2019
Glass structure and crystallization in boro-alumino-silicate glasses containing rare earth and transition metal cations: a US-UK collaborative program journal January 2019
Swift heavy ion-irradiated multi-phase calcium borosilicates: implications to molybdenum incorporation, microstructure, and network topology text January 2019
Swift heavy ion-irradiated multi-phase calcium borosilicates: implications to molybdenum incorporation, microstructure, and network topology text January 2019