Conversion of nuclear waste to molten glass: Formation of porous amorphous alumina in a high-Al melter feed

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2016.11.005· OSTI ID:1340744

Xu, Kai ; Hrma, Pavel; Washton, Nancy; Schweiger, Michael J.; Kruger, Albert A.

The transition of Al phases in a simulated high-Al high-level nuclear waste melter feed heated at 5 K min-1 to 700°C was investigated with transmission electron microscopy, 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, and X-ray diffraction. At temperatures between 300 and 500°C, porous amorphous alumina formed from the dehydration of gibbsite, resulting in increased specific surface area of the feed (~8 m2 g-1). The high-surface-area amorphous alumina formed in this manner could potentially stop salt migration in the cold cap during nuclear waste vitrification.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1340744
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-118421; 39392; 830403000
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 483, Issue C; ISSN 0022-3115
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Nuclear waste vitrification
amorphous alumina
high-Al HLW
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory