A technique for solidification of high-level liquid wastes (HLLW) to obtain
mineral-like forms through the use of water-cooled melters with direct
induction heating of a melt (CCIM) has been developed at the State
Scientific Center of the Russian Federation VNIINM (SSC RF VNIINM).
Mineral-like materials of different classes such as pyroxenes,
pyrosilicates, garnets of the andradite group, titanosilicates and Synroc D
were synthesized by the CCIM method at temperatures of 1250 – 1550°C.
The preliminary X-ray diffraction studies of these materials indicate that
the structures synthesized by the CCIM method have compositions that are
identical to those of the corresponding natural analogs. The chemical
durabilities of the synthesized materials upon their exposure to distilled
water at 20°C have been determined.
In addition to the investigation of solidification of liquid HLW, the CCIM
method is examined and applied to the synthesis of mineral-like compositions
involving simulated waste components (nonsoluble residues, ashes, and pulps)
produced by the chemical and metallurgical manufacturing of fissile
materials.