Sol-Gel Processing of Silica Nuclear Waste Glasses

Andrzej Deptuła, Magdalena Miłkowska, Wiesława Łada, Tadeusz Olczak, Danuta Wawszczak, Tomasz Smolinski, Fabio Zaza, Marcin Brykala, Andrzej G. Chmielewski, Kenneth C. Goretta

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DOI: 10.4236/njgc.2011.13015                

Abstract

A complex Sol-Gel process has been used for synthesis of silica glasses designed to contain high-level nuclear wastes. Cs, Sr, Co, and Nd (generically denoted Me) were used, the last as surrogate for actinides. Gels in the form of powders and sintered compacts were prepared by hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxide/Me nitrate solutions, which contained ascorbic acid as a catalyst. Thermal treatment studies were conducted on the resulting gels. Transformation to final products was studied by thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Preliminary testing of Me leaching was also completed in quiescent water. Only a single dense form was resistant to leaching

Keywords

Sol-Gel, Silica Glass, Nuclear Waste, Thermal Treatment

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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