GLASS FORMULATION FOR DIRECT VITRIFICATION OF INEEL CALCINE HLW

摘要

The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) High-Level Waste Technology Development program has the goal of defining processes for immobilizing Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) high-level wastes (HLW) to a qualified waste form for disposal before year 2035. Approximately 4,400 m~3 of calcine are presently stored in stainless steel bins at INTEC. One option for treating the calcine waste is direct vitrification. In this option, the calcine is fed to the melter with minimal feed conditioning. To demonstrate that direct vitrification is a feasible option for INEEL, glasses have been formulated for both a specific Zr-calcine simulant (Run 78 Calcine) and a Blend calcine. These waste compositions contained high concentrations of Al_2O_3, CaO, F, ZrO_2, and SO_3. Glass formulation efforts resulted in waste loadings for the Run 78 calcine and Blend calcine compositions of 38 and 40 mass%, respectively. At these loadings, all process and product performance criteria were met. Specific glass formulations for each waste stream were successfully processed in a pilot-scale melter at Clemson University.