Development of technology for high-level radwaste treatment to ceramic matrix by method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis

摘要

For the purpose of reduction of the risk of spread of transuranic actinides, carbon-14 and other radionuclides contained in the NPP HLW, the Rosenergoatom concern decided to develop a technology of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) to obtain a ceramic matrix suitable for long-term and ecologically safe deep geological disposal of the high-level radwaste of the nuclear industry. The proposed graphite HLW treatment method to immobilize the radionuclides into the thermally, chemically and radiation stable carbide-corundum matrix is based on a SHS-process according to the chemical reaction in the system C+Al+TiO_2, where the component C is irradiated graphite of the RBMK reactor core moderators. This paper reports the results of the R&D activities for optimising the SHS technology on a pilot plant using non-irradiated graphite and fuel spill simulators (HLW).