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At least 739 records · Page 41

Development of In-Can Melting Process Applied to Vitrification of High Activity Waste Solutions (HAWS): Glass characterizations and process tests results - 12442

The CEA has selected vitrification for specific High-Activity nuclear Waste Solutions (HAWS) containing large quantities of salts. This choice has led the CEA Marcoule to develop a compact 'in-can' batch melting process in which the melting pot is disposable and serves as the primary canister for the solidified glass. This process is particularly suitable for the treatment of small waste quantities (less than 10 m{sup 3} per year) and low flow rates (5 to 10 L/h) which do not justify the use of a Cold Crucible Induction Melter. The unit capacity is approximately one hundred kilograms of glass a week operating alternately between feeding during the day and surveillance at night. In order to be fully representative of the glove box to be implemented, a new nonradioactive pilot-scale unit in which the core process (furnace and dust scrubber) is completely enclosed with glove box simulation was built at CEA Marcoule in 2008. The equipment includes all the systems and components necessary to perform full-scale tests: feed system, furnace and complete off-gas treatment system. The nominal tests were performed in 2009 and 2010 to verify that no problems arose in vitrifying solutions under the specified conditions. Two different liquid feeds representatives of the current HAWS stored and future solutions were used. The transient runs were carried out in this facility in 2010. Their objectives were to validate the glass product with different operating conditions and to determine optimum parameters for transient phases such as decreased volatility during standby phases. Finally, all the material obtained under nominal conditions or different operating conditions (e.g. initial glass frit quantity, standby temperature or restart procedure of feeding after night surveillance) have been characterized and described. The impact of transient phases on the process is then discussed in terms of volatility, thermal balance, etc., and compared with nominal tests results. Off-gas treatment system (OGTS) assessments determined preliminary decontamination factors for the OGTS components and allowed comparison between the two types of solutions and for different operating parameters. Since 2005 CEA Marcoule has been developing an 'in-can melting' vitrification process for specific High Activity Nuclear Waste Solutions. The tests carried out to date have validated the feasibility of this process and confirmed the direct vitrification option in which the liquid and solid feed streams are supplied directly to a disposable melting pot. CEA Marcoule began process qualification testing in 2009 in a new facility using equipment representative of the devices that will be installed in a glove box. The nominal mode tests performed in 2009 and 2010 were used to determine nominal operating conditions for the process: - a nominal process temperature of 1100 deg. C; - a maximum glass production rate of 5 kg/h; - a liquid feed solution flow rate of 5 L/h or less if the glass production rate exceeds the preceding maximum value; - a liquid recycle rate of 0.5 L/h for a nominal solution feed rate 5 L/h. They also produced glass samples generally meeting our expectations, and allowed us to measure the characteristic properties (viscosity, density, thermal conductivity, chemical durability). The first test of transient operation in 2010 yielded glass consistent with expectations and showed that reducing the temperature had no significant effect on the volatility of the constituent elements. However, a significant impact on the release of elements at the beginning of the test was observed with a larger initial quantity of glass frit on startup. The process qualification program will now continue with tests of degraded operating modes. (authors)

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Effects of He Ion Irradiation in Simple Borosilicate Glasses for HLW Immobilisation - 20324

High-level radioactive waste (HLW) consists of fission products and minor actinides. Borosilicate glass is the host material of choice in most countries to safely immobilize HLW, followed by eventual geological disposal. HLW glasses will experience both self-heating and self-irradiation effects due to the decay of fission products and minor actinides present therein. During the first 500 years of geological disposal, beta-gamma decay will be the main source of radiation due to short half-lives of fission products, as compared to very long-lived actinides which will be responsible for irradiation over much longer timescales. High-energy alpha particles and alpha recoil nuclei can potentially have significant impact (stored energy, volume change, accumulated dose, chemical durability) on the performance of the wasteform over longer timescales. Thus, to ensure safe and economic disposal over geological periods (10{sup 4} - 10{sup 6} years), the assessment of performance and properties in terms of radiation effects becomes indispensable. This work aims to simulate the effects of alpha decay in radioactive waste glasses. Two international glasses, namely UK 'MW' lithium-sodium borosilicate and Indian sodium-barium borosilicate, which are being used as HLW immobilization matrices by the UK and India respectively, were prepared by a melt-quench method and annealed below their glass transition temperatures. Both glasses were irradiated with 650 KeV He{sup 2+} ions with doses ranging from 10{sup 15} to 10{sup 17} ions/cm{sup 2}. Structural analysis was carried out using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Raman spectroscopies. First derivative continuous wave EPR spectra were recorded for all pristine and irradiated glass monoliths at room temperature using an X-band (frequency 9.6 GHz) EPR Bruker spectrometer. Results from EPR analyses showed the formation of irradiation induced paramagnetic centers at g ∼ 2.00 in all irradiated glasses. Raman spectra of pristine and irradiated samples were acquired, and showed notable changes in glass structure post-irradiation, with the emergence of a broad Raman band at 1560 cm{sup -1} upon irradiation with high fluences. (authors)

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Compliant alkali silicate sealing glass for solid oxide fuel cell applications: Combined stability in isothermal ageing and thermal cycling with YSZ coated ferritic stainless steels

An alkali-containing silicate glass (SCN-1) is currently being evaluated as a candidate sealing glass for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications. The glass contains about 17 mole% alkalis (K+Na) and has low glass transition and softening temperatures. It remains vitreous and compliant around 750-800oC after sealing without substantial crystallization, as contrary to conventional glass-ceramic sealants, which experience rapid crystallization after the sealing process. The glassy nature and low characteristic temperatures can reduce residual stresses and result in the potential for crack healing. In a previous study, the glass was found to have good thermal cycle stability and was chemically compatible with YSZ coating during short term testing. In the current study, the compliant glass was further evaluated in a more realistic way in that the sealed glass couples were first isothermally aged for 1000h followed by thermal cycling. High temperature leakage was measured. The chemical compatibility was also investigated with powder mixtures at 700 and 800oC to enhance potential interfacial reaction. In addition, interfacial microstructure was examined with scanning electron microscopy and evaluated with regard to the leakage and chemical compatibility results.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

Molecular Imaging of Microbially Induced Corrosion of Synthetic Archeological Glasses by a Rhizosphere Bacterium

Microbially induced corrosion (MIC) focuses on the degradation of solid materials, such as glass or metal. Soil microbes are often associated with the corrosion of foreign objects in the rhizosphere. Paenibacillus polymyxa SCE2, a facultative anaerobic bacterium in soil, is of the same genus as bacteria found near nuclear waste disposal sites. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was used for imaging surface changes induced by P. polymyxa SCE2 cultured on two synthetic glass coupons to represent natural analogs of materials that were studied in relation to the vitrification of nuclear waste. Multimodal imaging was used to verify bacterial coverage across the glass surface after long-term growth. ToF-SIMS spectral analysis showed detection of glass component ions, such as silicon oxide (m/z – 59.96 SiO 2 – ) and aluminum oxide (m/z – 101.95 Al 2 O 3 – ), and biofilm’s extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) components, such as pentadecanoic acid (m/z – 241.22 C 15 H 29 O 2 – ) and sterol lipids (m/z – 311.16 C 20 H 23 O 3 – ). ToF-SIMS spectral, imaging, and depth profiling analyses showed that the glass rich in silica and other light elements (“granite glass”) had more “corrosion related” peaks than the glass that was less silica-rich and contained more iron (“dike glass”). Furthermore, these surface and interface compositional and spatial differences observed in the mass spectra and imaging were attributed to bacterial metabolism and an electron transfer mechanism influenced by morphological and compositional differences between the two types of glasses. ToF-SIMS is effective in studying microbial effects, bringing new molecular insights into MIC in a broader context of materials degradation.

Amorphous materials↗

Multiscale Investigation of the Mechanisms Controlling the Corrosion of Borosilicate Glasses in Hyper-Alkaline Media

The overarching goal of the present multiscale investigation is to unearth the kinetics and mechanisms of corrosion of borosilicate glasses in hyper-alkaline (pH = 13) environments as a function of their chemical composition. Accordingly, a series of 3- to 6-component borosilicate glasses have been designed starting from Na 2 O–B 2 O 3 –SiO 2 ternary, wherein the compositional complexity has been added in a systematic tiered approach, finally resulting in the composition of the well-known international simple glass (ISG). Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), one of the most widely used alkaline etchant in the glass and electronics industry, has been used as the corrosion media. A series of state-of-the-art characterization techniques including magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, elastic recoil detection analysis, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy have been employed to unearth the compositional dependence of glass corrosion in hyper-alkaline environments. The glass compositions underwent congruent corrosion in the forward rate regime, whereas the controlling mechanism of corrosion in the residual rate regime depends on the presence/absence of Ca in the surrounding environment and can be explained on the basis of the dissolution–reprecipitation model. The dependence of corrosion kinetics and the chemistry of alteration products (in the residual rate regime) on the glass composition have been discussed. Here, the results presented in this contribution will ultimately supplement the scientific literature attempting to understand the fundamental science governing the aqueous corrosion of silicate-based glass chemistries and add to the growing database required to develop non-empirical predictive models for designing glasses with controlled dissolution rates.

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Can a simple topological-constraints-based model predict the initial dissolution rate of borosilicate and aluminosilicate glasses?

Tuning glass composition to obtain targeted properties generally relies on empirical approaches. However, a deep understanding of the physical and chemical mechanisms linking glass composition to its structure and properties would enable developing reliable predictive models. Indeed, although empirical models are usually able to interpolate composition–property relationships within a given compositional envelope, they often fail at extrapolating predictions far from their training domain. Here, as an alternative route to empirical models, we show that a structural descriptor based on the number of topological constraints per atom can be used to predict the initial dissolution rate of aluminosilicate and borosilicate glasses after being parameterized on different families of glasses (specific series of borosilicate glasses). Sixteen glasses belonging to these families were studied and their initial dissolution rates were determined at 90 °C and pH 90 °C = 9, covering rates spanning over 5 orders of magnitude. The model based on topological constraints was trained based on seven select borosilicate glasses (R 2 = 0.997) and used to predict the dissolution rate of nine additional borosilicate and aluminosilicate glasses. We show that, provided that corrections are made for high alkali content glasses that dissolve incongruently (preferential release of Na), the model gives reasonable predictions, even far from its training domain.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Connectivity and free-surface effects in polymer glasses

The glass transition is one of the few unsolved problems in condensed matter physics: agreement on the cause of the slowing down of structural relaxation in glass-forming liquids is lacking. Glasses are amorphous solids, which do not possess the long-range crystalline order, yet display arrested dynamics and the shear elastic modulus characteristic of equilibrium elasticity. It has been suggested that due to the influence of intramolecular interactions and chain connectivity, the nature of the glass transition in polymers and in standard glass-formers is fundamentally different. Here, we discuss the role of connectivity in polymer glasses, demonstrating that although covalent bonding promotes glass formation, bonding sequentiality that defines a polymer chain is not critical in the bulk: glassy dynamics is purely a result of the number of connections per particle, independently of how these connections are formed, agreeing with the classical Phillips-Thorpe topological constraint theory. We show that bonding sequentiality does play an important role in the surface effects of the glass, highlighting a major difference between polymeric and colloidal glasses. Further, we identify the heterogenous dynamics of model coarse-grained polymer chains both in ‘bulk’ and near the free surface, and demonstrate characteristic domain patterns in local displacement and connectivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

LiPON and NaPON glasses: A study of the ammonolysis of lithium and sodium metaphosphate melts

Metaphosphate glasses such as LiPO 3 and NaPO 3 are known to incorporate nitrogen in the molten state under NH 3 flow to form (Li/Na)PON glasses through the reaction: (Li/Na)PO 3 + x NH 3 → (Li/Na)PO 3–(3 x /2) N x + (3 x /2)H 2 O, by partially replacing two-coordinated oxygen with two- and three-coordinated nitrogen. After nitridation, the glasses exhibit improved properties such as increased working range, chemical durability, and ionic conductivity. In this study, LiPO 3 and NaPO 3 glasses were prepared by the conventional melting and casting method and used as base glasses for the ammonolysis procedure. The nitridation processes were carried out by remelting the base glasses at temperatures up to 780°C, under a constant NH 3 flow. The effects on the nitrogen content in the resulting (Li/Na)PON glasses caused by different processing times and masses of powder and/or bulk materials were investigated. Nitridation was successfully confirmed by CNHS chemical analyses, Raman spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. Mass loss measurements after the ammonolysis process and Raman spectroscopy were used to quantify the nitrogen content into the glass structure. A new approach using a specific Raman normalization, (P–N<)/(O–P–O) sym , has been demonstrated as a reliable, simple, and fast way to determine the amounts of N incorporated to metaphosphate glass structures.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Method for estimating the density of high-level nuclear waste glass

A database of over 1100 silicate glass compositions and densities was compiled and used to evaluate the efficacy of an algorithm for estimating the density of silicate glass compositions. We sought to develop a parsimonious algorithm based on the additivity of partial molar volumes of individual oxide components weighted by their mole fraction in a glass composition. Bound molar volumes were used for oxides in which the density of the oxide bound in a glass matrix was previously determined. The bound molar volumes were known for oxides covering 97.5 mole percent of the database compositional space. The measured glass densities were plotted against the estimated glass densities and a linear regression yielded an R 2 adj. = 0.95 and a slope and intercept of approximately one and zero, respectively. This regression suggests that glass densities estimated by the algorithm, within analysis uncertainty, are equal to the measured densities of the glasses. In addition to the development of the density estimation, we corroborated many of the referenced bound molar volume data used in the parameterization of the estimation algorithm via linear regression of the individual partial molar volumes versus the inverse measured densities (specific volumes) of the glasses in the database.

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Structural dependence of crystallization in glasses along the nepheline (NaAlSiO 4 ) ‐ eucryptite (LiAlSiO 4 ) join

Abstract Lithium and sodium aluminosilicates are important glass‐forming systems for commercial glass‐ceramics, as well as being important model systems for ion transport in battery studies. In addition, uncontrolled crystallization of LiAlSiO 4 (eucryptite) in high‐Li 2 O compositions, analogous to the more well‐known problem of NaAlSiO 4 (nepheline) crystallization, can cause concerns for long‐term chemical durability in nuclear waste glasses. To study the relationships between glass structure and crystallization, nine glasses were synthesized in the Li x Na 1‐ x AlSiO 4 series, from x = 0 to x = 1. Raman spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance ( NMR ) spectroscopy (Li‐7, Na‐23, Al‐27, Si‐29), and X‐ray diffraction were used to study the quenched and heat‐treated glasses. It was found that different LiAlSiO 4 and NaAlSiO 4 crystal phases crystallize from the glass depending on the Li/Na ratio. Raman and NMR spectra of quenched glasses suggest similar structures regardless of alkali substitution. Li‐7 and Na‐23 NMR spectra of the glass‐ceramics near the endmember compositions show evidence of several differentiable sites distinct from known Li x Na 1‐ x AlSiO 4 crystalline phases, suggesting that these measurements can reveal subtle chemical environment differences in mixed‐alkali systems, similar to what has been observed for zeolites.

Marcial, José↗

Road Map for Development of Crystal-Tolerant High Level Waste Glasses

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is building a Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) at the Hanford Site in Washington to remediate 55 million gallons of radioactive waste that is being temporarily stored in 177 underground tanks. Efforts are being made to increase the loading of Hanford tank wastes in glass while meeting melter lifetime expectancies and process, regulatory, and product quality requirements. This road map guides the research and development for formulation and processing of crystal-tolerant glasses, identifying near- and long-term activities that need to be completed over the period from 2014 to 2019. The primary objective is to maximize waste loading for Hanford waste glasses without jeopardizing melter operation by crystal accumulation in the melter or melter discharge riser. The potential applicability to the Savannah River Site (SRS) Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) will also be addressed in this road map. The planned research described in this road map is motivated by the potential for substantial economic benefits (significant reductions in glass volumes) that will be realized if the current constraints (T 1% for WTP and T L for DWPF) are approached in an appropriate and technically defensible manner for defense waste and current melter designs. The basis of this alternative approach is an empirical model predicting the crystal accumulation in the WTP glass discharge riser and melter bottom as a function of glass composition, time, and temperature. When coupled with an associated operating limit (e.g., the maximum tolerable thickness of an accumulated layer of crystals), this model could then be integrated into the process control algorithms to formulate crystal-tolerant high-level waste (HLW) glasses targeting high waste loadings while still meeting process related limits and melter lifetime expectancies. The modeling effort will be an iterative process, where model form and a broader range of conditions, e.g., glass composition and temperature, will evolve as additional data on crystal accumulation are gathered. Model validation steps will be included to guide the development process and ensure the value of the effort (i.e., increased waste loading and waste throughput). A summary of the stages of the road map for developing the crystal-tolerant glass approach, their estimated durations, and deliverables is provided.

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Validation Assessment of a Glass-to-Metal Seal Finite-Element Model

Sealing glasses are ubiquitous in high pressure and temperature engineering applications, such as hermetic feed-through electrical connectors. A common connector technology are glass-to-metal seals where a metal shell compresses a sealing glass to create a hermetic seal. Though finite-element analysis has been used to understand and design glass-to-metal seals for many years, there has been little validation of these models. An indentation technique was employed to measure the residual stress on the surface of a simple glass-to-metal seal. Recently developed rate- dependent material models of both Schott 8061 and 304L VAR stainless steel have been applied to a finite-element model of the simple glass-to-metal seal. Model predictions of residual stress based on the evolution of material models are shown. These model predictions are compared to measured data. Validity of the finite- element predictions is discussed. It will be shown that the finite-element model of the glass-to-metal seal accurately predicts the mean residual stress in the glass near the glass-to-metal interface and is valid for this quantity of interest.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Selection of glasses in support of the Sludge Batch 9 variability study for coupled operation with the Salt Waste Processing Facility

Prior to the processing of Sludge Batch 9 (SB9) with Frit 803 at the Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF), assessments and experimental glass work were completed to support the qualification of SB9 coupled processing with streams from the Actinide Removal Process (ARP) and Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit (MCU). This previous work did not address coupled processing with streams from the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) because the Product Composition Control System (PCCS) models limited the TiO 2 concentration in glass to 2 weight percent (wt.%). These high activity streams from SWPF include monosodium titanate (MST) and sludge solids from the Sludge Solids Receipt Tank as well as Cs-containing strip effluent. The incorporation of these SWPF streams is expected to reach TiO2 concentrations in glass greater than 2 wt.% based on an MST addition of 0.4 g MST/L of salt solution. If double strike operation is required, then the MST addition is increased to 0.8 g MST/L of salt solution. Therefore, revisions to the models contained in PCCS were completed to allow the evaluation of glasses containing greater than 2 wt.% TiO 2 , but less than 6 wt.%. To support the implementation of the revised PCCS for SB9 – Frit 803 processing at DWPF prior to SWPF startup, the applicability of the new durability models for the SB9 variability study glasses was verified. Since the initial SB9 qualification for ARP-MCU coupled operation, additional Tank 40 analyses have been completed, which served as the basis for an updated projection of the SB9 blend composition in Tank 40. To identify a frit optimized for SB9 coupled operation with SWPF, the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) performed a paper-study by utilizing Measurement Acceptance Region (MAR) assessments with DWPF PCCS. Based on these MAR assessment results, Frit 625 was recommended for processing both single and double MST strike scenarios. Savannah River Remediation (SRR) requested that SRNL perform a variability study with both Frit 803 and Frit 625 for SB9 coupled operation with SWPF. The objective of the variability study is to demonstrate that the Product Consistency Test (PCT) responses of the glasses are acceptable relative to the chemical durability of the Environmental Assessment (EA) reference glass and predictable by the current DWPF PCCS models for durability. This report documents the development of a test matrix that will support the variability study. To provide operational flexibility prior to SWPF startup, the predictability of glasses within the glass region for Frit 625-SB9 coupled operation with ARP-MCU was also confirmed.

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Immobilized Low-Activity Waste Glass Release Data Package for the Integrated Disposal Facility Performance Assessment

The Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State has been used extensively by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to produce nuclear materials for the U.S. defense arsenal. A large inventory of radioactive and mixed waste has accumulated in 177 buried single- and double-shell tanks. Liquid waste recovered from the tanks will be pretreated to separate the low-activity fraction from the high-level and transuranic wastes. The low-activity waste (LAW) is planned to be immobilized in glass, via vitrification, and placed into a near-surface disposal system on the Hanford Site. Before the immobilized low-activity waste (ILAW) can be placed into the disposal system, DOE must approve a performance assessment (PA), which documents the assumptions and provides the quantitative demonstration of compliance with the performance objectives for the long-term protection of the public and the environment. A critical component of the PA will be to demonstrate that releases from the selected glass waste form do not result in the performance objectives being exceeded. The PA must also, for purposes of establishing limits on radionuclides that may be buried near-surface, assess impacts to a hypothetical intruder and impacts to water resources. The key information presented in this data package consists of the specific glass compositions and associated glass dissolution rate law parameters for five ILAW glasses. In addition, the results of geochemical modeling performed on several glasses that are not specifically described in this document are provided as supplemental data to help identify potential end-point alteration phases that may form during the weathering of ILAW glasses. These data (glass compositions, rate law parameters, and potential alteration phases) will be used to identify contaminant release source terms for the Integrated Disposal Facility PA. In addition, a general discussion on nuclear waste glass corrosion and a brief overview of modeling approaches and corresponding uncertainties are discussed. Table ES.1 through Table ES.4 provide the specific data to be used to support the 2017 PA.

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Characterization of the Sulfur Saturated Versions of the High-Chromium Matrix Glasses

In this report, the Savannah River National Laboratory provides chemical analysis of a series of sulfur saturated melt versions of simulated nuclear waste glasses, and chemical analysis of the wash solutions resulting from the preparation of these glasses. The glasses were selected and fabricated by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as part of a broader study of the influence of glass composition on chemical durability, sulfur retention, and other properties. The resulting data will be used in the development of improved property/composition models to support operation of the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. Some degree of scatter among the Al₂O₃, B₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, Na₂O, and SiO₂ measurements was noted for the study glasses. The measured concentrations of B₂O₃, chlorine, and fluorine were below the targeted values for most of the study glasses, likely because of volatility during the multiple melting steps. The measured concentrations of Cr₂O₃ and K₂O were generally low relative to the targeted values. These components were identified in the wash solutions, indicating partitioning to the excess sulfate phase that was washed from the glasses prior to analyses. As expected, the measured concentrations of SO₃ in the glasses were higher than targeted due to the use of the sulfur saturation method in fabricating these glasses. Minor scatter among the triplicate measurements of some of the analytes of the wash solutions was noted. The wash solutions contained mainly sulfur and sodium, with moderate concentrations of chromium and potassium. Revision 1 of this report corrects the omission of Al₂O₃ values from Table A-4 in Appendix A.

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Product Consistency Test Results for the LXC-Series Glasses

This report provides chemical analysis of a series of Product Consistency Test (PCT) leachates from simulated nuclear waste glasses. The resulting data will be used in the development of improved property/composition models. For some of the glass leachates, minor scatter among the triplicate values of some analytes was observed. For other leachates, there were more significant differences among the triplicate values. A review of the PCT data noted that there was little difference between the normalized values on the basis of targeted or measured glass composition. Several of the canister centerline cooled study glasses have NC i values that are greater than the Hanford Tank Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant immobilized low-activity waste constraint of 4 g/L for B and Na. The results of these glasses will help ensure the ability of advanced glass performance models to appropriately predict acceptable compositions. For many of the study glasses, heat treatment had only a marginal impact on the NC i values. The samples of the Environmental Assessment (EA) reference glass included with each PCT set had generally consistent NC i values. The release rates for boron and sodium, and for sodium and silicon were highly correlated for the study glasses, while for the other analytes, less correlation was observed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Low-Activity Waste Glass Standards Preparation and Characterization for Calibration of Analytical Instruments

A matrix of seven low-activity waste (LAW) glasses was fabricated and characterized to be used by the Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) as analytical instrument calibration and matrix interference standards when measuring LAW glass compositions. The matrix of glasses was designed to represent the range of LAW glass compositions that will be generated by the WTP. Samples from each of the seven glasses were measured with electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), ion chromatography (IC), and bulk inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) to determine the variability and accuracy across batches and within individually poured glass bar samples. High relative percent differences and standard deviations were calculated for components with low concentrations due to instrument detection limits. IC and ICP-MS percent differences and standard deviations were higher at low component concentrations. Otherwise, variability in measured compositions from IC and ICP-MS was generally lower than measurements from EPMA, with the exclusion of Cl, F, Si, and B. Overall, the two methods proved comparable and complementary. From EPMA, IC, and ICP-MS data, volatile elements were underrepresented compared to batched compositions, which suggested loss of these elements during melting. EPMA data was statistically analyzed to evaluate homogeneity within single bars and whole compositions for each of the seven glasses. Most of the variability within glass compositions occurred at the bar-to-bar level; however, no clear systematic trends were observed. Based on these analyses, when using these glasses as reference material, it is recommended that the overall mean and variance of each composition be used for performing instrument calibrations and analytical corrections.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Test Plan: Enhanced HLW Glass Property-Composition Models - Phase I, VSL-13T3080-1 (May 2013) (Rev. 0)

In the present work, previously compiled glass property-composition databases for WTP HLW glasses will be updated with any new data that have become available. The previous evaluation of the baseline WTP models against the larger data sets in terms of range of validity and prediction performance will be used together with a review of the HLW glass property-composition data to identify gaps in the composition space that will need to be filled to support the development of expanded models. The results will be used to identify the composition spaces where gaps exist that need to be filled by new compositions to be tested. Composition matrices will be developed for this purpose. Crucible melts of the glass compositions identified in these matrices will be prepared and tested for the properties of interest. Finally, the entire composition space and glass property data available will be used in the development of improved and extended models. Review of the WTP HLW glass property-composition models against the extended datasets and initial identification of the data gaps will also be used to judge whether to develop one set of models for the entire HLW glass composition space or to develop separate models for discrete composition spaces. The longer-term objective of this multi-year task is to develop new glass property-composition models for PCT release, spinel crystallization (T1%), nepheline formation on CCC, TCLP Cd response, viscosity and electrical conductivity to control glass compositions for HLW vitrification at Hanford.

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