Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-wg55d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-12T13:39:51.329Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Vitrification of simulated highly active calcines containing high concentrations of sodium and molybdenum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 February 2017

Mike T. Harrison  and
Carl J. Steele
Mike T. Harrison*
Affiliation:
National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, UK.
Carl J. Steele
Affiliation:
Sellafield Ltd, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, UK.
*
*(Email: mike.t.harrison@nnl.co.uk)
Get access

Abstract

Sodium carbonate is currently being considered as a wash-out reagent for the removal of the settled solids in the unagitated Highly Active Liquor (HAL) storage tanks at Sellafield. As the settled solids are expected to comprise mainly zirconium molybdate (ZM), this will result in a challenging feed to the Waste Vitrification Plant (WVP) containing high concentrations of both molybdenum and sodium.

In previous studies, it was shown that at high wash-out waste loadings, i.e. 10 – 12 wt% MoO3 incorporation, there was very little tolerance in ‘Ca/Zn’ base glass for extra sodium before the formation of significant separated sodium molybdate salt phase. However, higher amounts of sodium can be accommodated in borosilicate glasses if the wash-out waste loading is reduced. Further studies have now been carried out to investigate the vitrification of more representative calcined waste feeds. Both pure zirconium molybdate (ZM) and blended ZM-reprocessing waste calcines were produced from the appropriate liquor feeds. The maximum waste incorporations of these two calcines in ‘Ca/Zn’ base glass have been determined, along with a complete product quality assessment. This assessment included measuring the bulk density, degree of crystallinity, heat treatment, durability (Soxhlet and PCT), glass transition temperature, and viscosity.

Keywords

SiMowaste management
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 1 , Issue 63-64: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXIX , 2016 , pp. 4233 - 4238
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Harrison, M. T., Procedia Materials Science, 7, 10–15 (2014).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edmondson, M. J., Maxwell, L. J., Ward, T. R., A Methodology for Post Operational Clean Out of a Highly Active Facility Including Solids Behaviour -12386, Waste Management Symposium 2012.Google Scholar
Paul, N., Hammond, R. B., Hunter, T. N., Edmondson, M., Maxwell, L., Biggs, S., Polyhedron, 89, 129–141 (2015).Google Scholar
Short, R. J., Hand, R. J., Hyatt, N. C., Mobus, G., J. Nucl. Mater., 340, 179–186 (2005).Google Scholar
Hand, R. J., Short, R. J., Morgan, S., Hyatt, N. C., Mobus, G., Lee, W.E., Molybdenum in glasses containing vitrified nuclear waste, ESG Proceedings, 2004.Google Scholar
Nicoleau, E., Schuller, S., Angeli, F., Charpentier, T., Jollivet, P., Le Gac, A., Fournier, M., Mesbah, A., Vasconcelos, F., J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 427, 120–133 (2015).Google Scholar
Short, R., Turner, E., Dunnett, B., Riley, A., Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 1107, 261–267 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ASTM, “ASTM C965–81: Measuring viscosity of glass above the softening point,” 1981.Google Scholar
Dunnett, B. F., Gribble, N. R., Riley, A. D. and Steele, C. J., Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 1193, 291–298 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ASTM, “ASTM C1285–02: Standard Test Methods for Determining Chemical Durability of Nuclear, Hazardous, and Mixed Waste Glasses and Multiphase Glass Ceramics: The Product Consistency Test (PCT),” 2002.Google Scholar
Henry, N., Deniard, P., Jobica, S., Breca, R., Fillet, C., Bart, F., Grandjean, A., Pinet, O., J. Non-Cryst. Solids, 333, 199–205 (2004).Google Scholar
Curti, E., Crovisier, J. L., Morvan, G., Karpoff, A. M., Appl. Geochem. 21, 1152–1168 (2006).Google Scholar
Harrison, M. T., Procedia Materials Science 7, 186–192 (2014).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, P. B., Ojovan, M. L., Hyatt, N. C. and Lee, W. E., Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 824, 321–326 (2008)Google Scholar