Composition and method for the processing of hazardous sludges and ion exchange media
OwnerPaul George Heath, Martin William Alexander Stewartinventors
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Abstract
A composition to immobilize nuclear containing waste comprising at least one radioactive element or alloy of uranium, graphite, magnesium, and aluminum, and a method of using the same to immobilize the nuclear containing waste into a solid wasteform. The composition comprises at least one mineral phase forming element or compound for reacting with the at least one radioactive element or alloy. The composition further comprises at least one glass-forming element or compound to form a glass phase that will incorporate waste radioisotopes and impurities that do not react with the mineral phase forming element or compound.
Claims36
A composition to immobilize nuclear containing waste containing at least one radioactive element or alloy of uranium, graphite, magnesium, and aluminum, said composition comprising:
- at least one mineral phase forming element or compound that reacts with said at least one radioactive element or alloy;
- and
- at least one glass-forming element or compound to form a glass phase that incorporates waste radioisotopes and impurities that do not react with said least one mineral phase forming element or compound,
- wherein the composition immobilizes said nuclear containing waste in a solid wasteform,
- wherein the nuclear containing waste comprises a magnesium metal, carbonate or hydroxide, and the mineral phase is sufficient to convert the magnesium metal, carbonate or hydroxide to MgO, and/or the nuclear containing waste comprises a uranium metal and/or hydrated and carbonated uranium, and the mineral phase is sufficient to convert the uranium oxide.
A method of treating nuclear containing waste, said method comprising:
- forming a slurry comprising nuclear containing waste containing a magnesium metal, carbonate or hydroxide and a composition comprising at least one mineral phase forming element or compound and at least one glass-forming element or compound, wherein the mineral phase is sufficient to convert the magnesium metal, carbonate or hydroxide to MgO, and/or the nuclear containing waste comprises a uranium metal and/or hydrated and carbonated uranium, and the mineral phase is sufficient to convert the uranium oxide;
- drying said slurry to form a dried product;
- calcining the dried product to form a calcined product;
- loading the calcined product into a canister;
- evacuating and sealing the metal canister;
- and
- thermally treating the calcined product in the canister to produce a dense wasteform product, which comprises a glass-ceramic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.