Surface Analysis of Leached Simulated Waste Glass.

Abstract

Leaching experiments on a simulated borosilicate waste glass were performed using a static method in the presence of PbO and bentonite. Ions in leachates were analyzed by ICP, while leached samples were characterized by several surface analytical methods such as XPS, SEM, EPMA, XRD and topography. As the simulated waste glass was leached in the presence of PbO and bentomte, lead hydroxide and insoluble elements (Ti, Nd, Ru and Zr ) were detected on the surface, respectively. On the other hand, a large amount of uranyl hydroxide was found on the surface of it when the borosilicate glass with 25 % U308 was leached in a soxhlet apparatus.Keywords simulated borosilicate waste glass, leach, surface analysis Borosilicate glass has been assessed as one of the best matrix materials for the immobilization of high level nuclear wastes. In order to isolate the radioactive waste safely from the biosphere for more than several thousands years, many environmental factors such as ground water, filler, metal barrier, buffer material, backfill material and rock should be considered in the leaching process of a borosilicate waste glass.