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Single-component-at-a-time variation study for glass-ceramic waste forms

Here, a 51-sample composition variation study was performed on glass-ceramic waste forms for a raffinate waste stream from aqueous reprocessing of used nuclear fuel containing high fractions of Mo, alkalis, alkaline earths (AEs), and rare earths (REs). The study was designed with a single-component-at-a-time variation approach off a centroid composition. The components that were varied included Al, B, Ca, Li, Mo, Na, REs, Si, Zr, and Others (containing minor components). Data analysis included crystallization curves, microstructure, and phase compositions. A number of components (i.e., Li 2 O, B 2 O 3 , REO x , MoO 3 , Na 2 O, and ZrO 2 ) significantly impacted the concentration and chemistry of phases, especially the primary phases of oxyapatite [i.e., Ca 2 RE 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 ] and powellite (i.e., AEMoO 4 ), precipitated in the slow-cool heat-treated waste forms; minor phases included cerianite [i.e., Ce x Zr (1-x) O 2 ], Ba-molybdate [i.e., Ba(Gd 0.67 Mo 0.33 O 3 ], noble metals, pollucite (i.e., CsAlSiO 4 ), and RE-borosilicate (i.e., RE 3 BSi 2 O 10 ).

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

A Kinetic Model of the Long-Term Corrosion of Glass-Ceramic Materials

Multiphase waste forms show promise for increased waste loading and for the ability to dispose of contaminated solid and particulate waste through direct densification. However, achieving predictive capability for long-term durability of multiphase waste forms, and thus assessing their possible deployment, requires expanding the current, limited knowledge base. Here, we describe the development of a corrosion model of a two-phase waste form consisting of crystals of known volume fraction embedded in a glass matrix. This model accounts for the dissolution of both the crystalline and glass phases as well as the hydration of the glass phase through an ion exchange reaction. Because of the large difference in solubility between the two phases, the reactive surface of the crystalline phase is a function of the extent of dissolution of the glass phase in this model. Model parameterization was performed using corrosion data, such as from single-pass flow-through tests, for the individual phases. The parameterized corrosion model was evaluated against static dissolution test data for a glass-ceramic multiphase waste form. This evaluation demonstrated the model’s ability to reproduce the time-dependent release of key tracers of glass and crystalline phase dissolution. Hence, the development of a kinetic model provides a pathway for long-term durability predictions and thus the use of multiphase waste forms in nuclear cleanup missions.

Kerisit, Sebastien N.↗

Structure and thermodynamics of calcium rare earth silicate oxyapatites, Ca 2 RE 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 (RE = Pr, Tb, Ho, Tm)

Calcium rare earth silicate oxyapatites, (Ca 2 RE 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 ), are of interest as components of glass-ceramic nuclear waste forms. To assess their long-term behavior in a geologic repository, it is essential to determine their structure and thermodynamic stability at relevant conditions. Here, in this work, we performed detailed structural and thermodynamic investigations on Ca 2 Pr 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 , Ca 2 Tb 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 , Ca 2 Ho 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 , and Ca 2 Tm 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 by high energy synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction combined with Rietveld analysis and high temperature oxide melt drop solution calorimetry. Enthalpies of formation from constituent oxides (ΔH f,ox ) were determined to be -765.1 ± 22.8 kJ/mol for Ca 2 Pr 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 ; -638.9 ± 20.5 kJ/mol for Ca 2 Tb 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 ; -643.3 ± 10.3 kJ/mol for Ca 2 Ho 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 ; and -403.2 ± 5.1 kJ/mol for Ca 2 Tm 8 (SiO 4 ) 6 O 2 . These thermodynamic parameters were used in assessing the thermochemical stability of these phases in the presence of water vapor from room temperature to 600 K, as encountered in the subsurface environments of a geological repository.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Thermodynamics of Crystallization and Phase-Separation in Melt-Derived Nuclear Waste Forms

This project aimed to gain detailed and fundamental understanding of the stability of glass waste forms to be used for safe and reliable encapsulation of nuclear waste. The focus was to understand thermodynamic and structural properties involved in crystallization and phase separation in melt-derived waste form glasses and glass-ceramics by studying a baseline glass composition with varying additives. This was achieved by combining neutron total scattering, advanced calorimetric measurements, and extensive modeling study. This project harnessed diverse and complementary approaches and expertise from four collaborating interdisciplinary institutions (two universities, one national laboratory, and one UK university partner). Samples were prepared at the national laboratory and exchanged with the two university institutions. The thermodynamic data obtained by various advanced calorimetry techniques were linked to the underlying short-range structure of waste forms measured by state-of-the-art neutron total scattering experiments. An important element of this project was extensive modeling to interpret and fundamentally understand the experimental results.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗