Component Solubility in Lanthanum Borosilicate Glasses for the Vitrification of Plutonium Oxide and Plutonium-Bearing Materials

摘要

Component solubilities in lanthanum borosilicate (LaBS) glasses were studied. The results suggest that LaBS glass may be a candidate frit for vitrification of PuO_2 and Pu-bearing materials that contain CaO, Fe_2O_3, Ga_2O_3, K_2O, MgO, MnO, MoO_3, Na_2O, NiO, P_2O_5, Ta_2O_5, and WO_3. This study also found that LaBS glasses with Na_2O or K_2O, or a mixture of the two were prone to liquid-liquid phase separation with higher than expected concentrations of alkalis from Pu waste streams. The effect of phase separation on durability of the LaBS system is not available in the literature to our knowledge. Further investigation is recommended.