Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T03:41:28.911Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An Evaluation of Single Phase Ceramic Formulations for Plutonium Disposition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2011

Martin Christopher Stennett ,
Ewan R Maddrell ,
Charlie R Scales ,
Francis R Livens ,
Matthew Gilbert  and
Neil C Hyatt
Martin Christopher Stennett
Affiliation:
m.c.stennett@shef.ac.uk, The University of Sheffield, Engineering Materials, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S2 4UG, United Kingdom, +44 (0)114 2225504, +44 (0)114 2225943
Ewan R Maddrell
Affiliation:
ewan.r.maddrell@nexiasolutions.com, Nexia Solutions Ltd., Sellafield, Seascale, CA20 1PG, United Kingdom
Charlie R Scales
Affiliation:
charlie.r.scales@nexiasolutions.com, Nexia Solutions Ltd., Sellafield, Seascale, CA20 1PG, United Kingdom
Francis R Livens
Affiliation:
francis.livens@manchester.ac.uk, University of Manchester, Chemistry, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
Matthew Gilbert
Affiliation:
Matthew.Gilbert-2@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk, University of Manchester, Chemistry, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
Neil C Hyatt
Affiliation:
n.c.hyatt@shef.ac.uk, University of Sheffield, Engineering Materials, Mappin Street, Sheffield, S1 3JD, United Kingdom
Get access

Abstract

Tailored ceramics are promising potential hosts for the immobilization of actinides [1]. In this study the potential of a range of different ceramic systems were investigated for the incorporation of waste plutonium, using Ce as a Pu surrogate. Durable actinide containing minerals exist in nature and provided excellent target phases for the titanate, zirconate, silicate and phosphate based formulations examined here [2]. The Ce single phase solid solution limits for each system were established and the processing parameters required to produce high quality ceramic specimens were optimised. Importantly, this was achieved within the constraints of a generic processing route suitable for fabrication of Pu bearing samples.

Keywords

waste managementceramicPu
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 985: Symposium NN – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXX , 2006 , 0985-NN04-02
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Ringwood, A. E., Kesson, S. E., Ware, N. G., Hibberson, W. O. and Major, A.: The SYNROC process: A Geochemical approach to nuclear waste immobilisation. Geochemical Journal. 13, 141 (1979).Google Scholar
2. Ewing, R. C., Weber, W. J. and Lian, J.: Nuclear waste disposal ñ pyrochlore (A2B2O7): Nuclear waste form for the immobilisation of plutonium and ìminorî actinides. Journal of Applied Physics. 95, 5949 (2004).Google Scholar
3. Gong, W. L., Lutze, W. and Ewing, R. C.: Zirconia ceramics for excess weapons plutonium waste. Journal of Nuclear Materials. 277, 239 (2000).Google Scholar
4. Ewing, R. C.: The design and evaluation of nuclear-waste forms: Clues from mineralogy. Canadian Mineralogist. 39, 697 (2001).Google Scholar
5. Stennett, M. C., Hyatt, N. C., Lee, W. E., and Maddrell, E. R.: Processing and characterisation of fluorite-related ceramic wasteforms for immobilisation of actinides in Environmental Issues and Waste Management Technologies in the Ceramic and Nuclear Industries XI, edited by Herman, C. C., S., Marra, Spearing, D. R., L., Vance, and Vienna, J. D., (Ceramic Transactions 176, 2006).Google Scholar
6. Ebbinghaus, B. B., Armantrout, G. A., Gray, L., Herman, C. C., Shaw, H. F. and Van-Konynenburg, R. A.: Plutonium immobilisation project baseline formulation. UCRL-ID-133089 (2000).Google Scholar