Composition and method for the processing of hazardous sludges and ion exchange media
AssigneeGeoRoc International, Inc.
InventorsPaul George Heath, Martin William Alexander Stewart
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Abstract
A composition to immobilize nuclear containing waste containing at least one radioactive element or alloy of uranium, graphite, magnesium, and aluminum is disclosed. 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. A method of using the disclosed composition to immobilize the nuclear containing waste into a solid wasteform is also disclosed.
Claims40
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.
A method of treating nuclear containing waste, said method comprising:
- forming a slurry comprising nuclear containing waste and at least one additive;
- 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 material in the canister to produce a dense wasteform product, which comprises a glass-ceramic.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.