Sintering Bi₂O₃–B₂O₃–ZnO ternary low temperature glass by hydration device to solidify iodine containing silver-coated silica gel

Abstract

A new glass solidification process aims at radioactive iodine waste was explored in order to reduce the possible harm to environment. Samples with different iodine content in silver-coated silica gel were pretreated by hydration device at 300 °C and then sintered at relatively low temperatures (500, 550 and 600 °C). XRD results show that AgI is mainly chemically fixed in the glass network with some AgI particles being physically wrapped by the glass. Moreover, as the sintering temperature reached to 550 °C, B element crystallized. SEM-EDS results show that Ag and I elements are enriched, while the other elements are evenly distributed. AFM results showed that the sample surface becomes rougher as the iodine content increases in the silver coated silica gel. The FT-IR results show that the structure of the sintered sample is mainly composed of [BiO3], [BiO6] and [BO3]. This study provides a new sintering method by hydration device for the treatment of radioactive iodine waste.