Pyrochlore based glass-ceramics for the immobilization of actinide-rich nuclear wastes: From concept to reality

Development of brannerite glass‐ceramics for the immobilization of actinide‐rich radioactive wastes

“…Consequently, both zirconolite‐ and pyrochlore‐based glass ceramics have been investigated as potential waste forms for the immobilization of some compositionally diverse actinide‐rich radioactive wastes, e.g., plutonium (Pu) residue wastes and separated minor actinides. Considering their actinide waste loadings and radiation resistance, pyrochlore‐based glass‐ceramics are more favorable …”

“…The primary consideration was based on a typical sodium borosilicate glass with half of the boron replaced by aluminum in order to improve its chemical durability. Such a baseline glass was successfully used in the development of pyrochlore‐based glass‐ceramics . As part of the design brief, the actinide is directed toward the more durable ceramic phases and away from the glass.…”

In-situ Raman and Brillouin light scattering study of the international simple glass in response to temperature and pressure

“…Cement [1][2][3][4], ceramics [5], and glass-ceramic composites [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] have been proposed as encapsulation materials, as well as glasses of various compositions [5,15]. Glass is promising for its innate ability of the amorphous network to accommodate a wide variety of elements, including the heavy actinides and fission products that result from nuclear energy generation or other processes such as nuclear weapons reclamation and medical treatments.…”

Rapid synthesis of Gd2Zr2O7 glass‐ceramics using spark plasma sintering

“…Loiseau et al obtained the glass‐ceramic nuclear waste forms by carefully crystallizing CaZrTi 2 O 7 from the surface of SiO 2 ‐Al 2 O 3 ‐CaO‐ZrO 2 ‐TiO 2 glasses to immobilize waste containing lanthanides (Ce, Nd, Eu, Gd, Yb) and actinides (Th) . Similarly, Zhang et al obtained glass‐ceramics by internally crystallizing pyrochlore‐phased composites (containing U/Pu) in glass for actinide‐rich nuclear wastes immobilization. Kong et al studied Y 2 Ti 2 O 7 crystal growth in glass‐ceramics by a soft chemistry route.…”