Immobilization of carbon-14 from reactor graphite waste by use of self-sustaining reaction in the C–Al–TiO2 system

Processing Ceramics for Radioactive Waste Immobilisation

“…Self-sustaining vitrification does not require expensive equipment, and it is economically justified particularly for small volume hazardous wastes. The waste materials to be immobilised can be products of calcination of radioactive waste, ashes produced by incinerating hazardous (radioactive) waste, contaminated both by heavy metals and radionuclides clay soils and spent inorganic ion exchangers [4][5][6][15][16][17] . Typical PMF compositions are given in Table 2 17 .…”

“…This reaction produces dense, thermally and chemically stable ceramics, which safely immobilises the radionuclides from the waste graphite. The exothermic reactions in the C -Al -TiO 2 system have been analysed and the phase composition of ceramics produced identified as well as the potential for carbon release during the thermochemical processing 5,6,9 . The phase composition of products obtained is shown in Fig.…”

Graphite immobilisation in iron phosphate glass composite materials produced by microwave and conventional sintering routes

“…The use of graphite as a moderator, reflector and fuel matrix in various types of reactors such as the UK Magnox and Russian RBMK reactors has resulted in approximately 250 000 tonnes of irradiated graphite waste worldwide [1][2][3]. This waste still requires an appropriate waste management strategy for its long-term treatment and disposal.…”

Combustion synthesis of ceramic matrices for immobilization of 14C

“…Thanks to their very interesting physico-chemical properties and more precisely their corrosion resistance, titanium or silicon carbides (Ti,Si,C) are potential candidates for the preparation of ceramic matrices for immobilization of 14 C. Several methods of synthesizing carbides exist but this study is devoted in the application of combustion synthesis [1] or self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS). Indeed, combustion synthesis is an energy and time saving technique because it utilizes the heat generated by an exothermic reaction to sustain itself in the form of a combustion wave after external ignition [2].…”