Speaker
Dr
Clive Brigden
(ISL, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.)
Description
A study to develop a new high level waste (HLW) glass formulation for waste from the highly active liquor storage (HAL) tanks at Sellafield is described. A likely washout scenario for the tanks at the end of operations involves the use of sodium carbonate as a tank washout reagent [1] leading to a high soda wastestream. Titanium is not currently used in existing HLW formulations in European nuclear waste glasses, however, literature suggests that titanosilicate glasses can accommodate large amounts of sodium [2-4], even up to 50 mol% [5]. Following a combinatorial type approach exploring the effects of variation of alumina (Al2O3), boron oxide (B2O3), calcium and mixed alkali content in sodium titanosilicate formulations with and without waste simulant (including molybdenum and zirconium oxides) and durability assessment, two promising formulations are currently being trialled and full product waste simulant containing glass being prepared via base glass frit plus waste simulant combination. Further durability trials and structural characterisation are also being investigated and results will be reported.
1 M. J. Edmondson et al., "A Methodology for Post Operational Clean Out of a Highly Active Facility Including Solids Behaviour", 12386, 2012 (Submitted for the WM2012 Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, USA).
2 Hamilton, E. H. and G. W. Cleek (1958). "Properties of sodium titanium silicate glasses” J. Res. Nat. Bur. Standards. 61 (2) 89-94.
3 Turnbull, R. C. and W. G. Lawrence (1952). "The role of titania in silica glasses” J. Amer. Ceram. Soc. 35 (2) 48-53.
4 Strimple, J. H. and E. A. Giess (1958). "Glass formation and properties of glasses in the system Na2O-B2O3-SiO2-TiO2" J. Amer. Ceram. Soc. 41 (7) 231-237.
5 Washburn, E. W. and E. N. Bunting (1934). "Note on phase equilibria in the system Na2O-TiO2." J. Res. Nat. Bur. Standards 12 (2) 239-239.
This document has been prepared by Clive Brigden as part of collaborative project involving Sellafield Ltd. Some of the information it contains is owned by Sellafield Ltd or NDA and is, or may be, proprietary or subject to restrictions relating to national security, commercial or personal obligations. It is submitted to Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management 2017 meeting for the purposes of professional assessment. It may be copied and distributed as required for this purpose but no other use may be made of any component owned by Sellafield Ltd or NDA without the prior permission of Sellafield Ltd.
Primary author
Dr
Clive Brigden
(ISL, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.)
Co-authors
Dr
Cath Stephen
(National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, UK)
Mr
John Longmore
(Cera Dynamics Ltd, Fountain Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2HB, UK.)
Dr
Katy Spencer
(Sellafield Ltd, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria,CA20 1PG, UK.)
Dr
Lisa Hollands
(ISL, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.)
Mr
Michael Ingrams
(Sellafield Ltd, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria,CA20 1PG, UK.)
Dr
Michelle Eccles
(National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, UK)
Dr
Mike Harrison
(National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, UK)
Ms
Rebecca Sparkes
(Sellafield Ltd, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria,CA20 1PG, UK.)
Prof.
Russell Hand
(ISL, Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Sheffield, S1 3JD, UK.)
