Date of Award
12-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Ming Tang
Committee Member
Dr. John Ballato
Committee Member
Dr. Kyle Brinkman
Committee Member
Dr. JianhuaTong
Abstract
Electrochemical reprocessing can be used to recycle presently stored nuclear fuel and consists of dissolving that used fuel in molten salt and the waste produced from these processes is a small amount of a high-level salt waste. Vitrification has been selected as the primary means of safely disposing high and low level radioactive waste. This is due to glass’ ability to incorporate many elements within its matrix, and it is chemically durable with the addition of network formers and other glass forming chemicals. With over 90,000 tonnes of nuclear waste in the United States, the avoidance of additional steps required for vitrification would be desired. Salt waste has a low solubility in borosilicate glass, the most prevalent waste form currently, so phosphate glass is one of the waste forms chosen for its immobilization. R2O3 oxides are required to be incorporated into the phosphate glass to replace water soluble -P-O-P- bonds to assist with the poor chemical durability (a crucial property to be controlled for nuclear waste storage). The processing of these glasses occurs at around 1150°C which allow for processing within a current glass melter technology. Characterization techniques were conducted to ensure the homogeneity of the glass and observe the chemical distribution. Leaching and ion irradiation testing was also crucial to this work as the chemical durability and radiation stability for a nuclear waste form are important characteristics to determine its capabilities within an underground long-term storage/repository.
Recommended Citation
Page, Matthew Aaron, "Iron Phosphate Glass for the Immobilization of Dehalogenated Salt Waste" (2022). All Theses. 3959.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/3959
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0001-8004-5687