Direct Conversion of Halogen-Containing Wastes to Borosilicate Glass

Abstract

Glass has become a preferred waste form worldwide for radioactive wastes; however, there are limitations. Halogen-containing wastes can not be converted to glass because halogens (chlorides, fluorides, etc.) form poor-quality waste glasses. Furthermore, halides in glass melters often form second phases that create operating problems. A new waste vitrification process, the Glass Material Oxidation and Dissolution System (GMODS), removes these limitations by converting halogen-containing wastes into borosilicate glass and a secondary, clean, sodium-halide stream.

A glass-encapsulated calcium phosphate wasteform for the immobilization of actinide-, fluoride-, and chloride-containing radioactive wastes from the pyrochemical reprocessing of plutonium metal

“…For example, it has been noted that lead silicate-based glasses may be suitable for treating wastes containing actinide chlorides, the chloride ions not being retained within the wasteform, but rather evolved from the melt as volatile lead chloride [18], as given by…”