Containment of nuclear waste
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsJames M. Pope, Don E. Harrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a method of immobilizing nuclear waste in glass. A composition is prepared of about 30 to about 85% of a hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound, about 5 to about 30% of a glass-forming sodium compound, up to about 30% of a glass-forming aluminum compound, and about 5 to about 30% of a glass-forming boron, calcium, or magnesium compound. Up to an equal amount of nuclear waste is mixed into the composition and the mixture is heated at up to 500.degree. C. until dry. The mixture is then melted at 800.degree. to 1300.degree. C., and can be poured into ingots and cooled. The mixture can also be melted in situ with a laser.
Claims9
A method of immobilizing nuclear waste comprising:
- (A) preparing a composition which comprises
- (1) about 30% to about 85% by weight, calculated as SiO.sub.2, of a silicon compound having the general formula SiR.sub.m (OR').sub.n X.sub.p or Si(OSiR.sub.3).sub.4 where each R is independently selected from alkyl to C.sub.10 and alkenyl to C.sub.10, each R' is independently selected from R and aryl, each X is independently selected from chlorine and bromine, m is 0 to 3, n is 0 to 4, p is 0 to 1, and m+n+p equals 4;
- (2) about 5% to about 30% by weight, calculated as Na.sub.2 O, of a sodium compound having the general formula NaOR" or NaZR'.sub.3, where each R" is independently selected from R and hydrogen, and Z is carbon or boron;
- (3) up to about 30% by weight, calculated as Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, of an aluminum compound having the general formula AlR'.sub.q (OR").sub.r X.sub.s or Mg(Al(OR).sub.4).sub.2, q is 0 to 3, r is 0 to 3, s is 0 to 1, and q+r+s equals 3;
- (4) about 5% to about 30% by weight, calculated as the corresponding oxide, of a compound selected from the group consisting of boron compounds having the general formula BR'.sub.q (OR").sub.r X.sub.s, where q+r+s equals 3, alkaline earth metal compounds having the general formula MR.sub.t (OR").sub.u X.sub.v where M is calcium or magnesium, t is 0 to 2, u is 0 to 2, v is 0 to 1, and t+u+v equals 2, lithium compounds having the general formula LiOR, and mixtures thereof, said composition being at least partially hydrolyzed;
- (B) mixing into said composition up to about to an equal amount by weight of said nuclear waste at up to 500.degree. C. until the mixture is dry and organics have been removed;
- and
- (C) melting said mixture at about 800.degree. C. to 1300.degree. C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.