NUCLEAR WASTE ENCAPSULATION IN BOROSILICATE GLASS BY CHEMICAL POLYMERIZATION

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREDisclosed is a process for containing a solutionof nuclear waste, where the nuclear waste is at least 10%sodium or nitrate. A composition is prepared in an alco-hol of about 1 to about 99% of a silicon alkoxide andabout 1 to about 99% of a boron alkoxide. The pH of thenuclear waste solution is adjusted to about 4 to 6and the pH of ihe composition is adjusted to match. Thecomposition is dried to about 50 to about 75% of itsoriginal volume and is mixed with up to about 30$ of thesolution of nuclear waste, thereby forming a gel. Themixture is dried and heated at up to about 500°C. Fin-ally, it is consolidated either by warm pressing at about400 to about 800°C at about 40,000 to about 100,000 psi,or by melting at about 700 to about 1150°C.