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AssigneesAustralian Nat'l Univ. of Acton, Australia Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation
InventorsEric J. Ramm, Wilhelmus J. Buykx, Alfred E. Ringwood
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A dry, pourable particulate mixture of nuclear waste and synthetic rock-forming components is produced by supplying the rock forming components in dry particulate form to a mixer, supplying the nuclear waste in liquid phase and operating the mixer to distribute the waste substantially uniformly through the synthetic rock components; the mixture is calcined to produce a precursor powder which is adapted to be used in a hot pressing process to form synthetic rock throughout which the radioactive nuclear waste is distributed and immobilized. A reducing gas atmosphere is preferably maintained in the calcining process stage, the gas being for example pure hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen in nitrogen in proportions which are non-explosive. A screw type or paddle type conveyor can be used for the mixing and calcining stages although the calcining can be effected in a vertically downwardly directed tube device having associated heating means such as microwave heating.
A process for providing particulate material suitable for the formation of synthetic rock under heat and pressure, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.