Synthesis of trevorite to capture Tc

Abstract

Spinel containing technetium can be used to prevent Tc volatilization during vitrification of radioactive waste. Spinel dissolves in glass at elevated temperatures. This study focuses on the synthesis of spinel and the retention of rhenium, a nonradioactive surrogate for Tc in the crystals. To produce trevorite, a nickel-iron spinel (NiFe 2 O 4 ), Fe and Ni nitrates were mixed with alkali nitrates along with Al(OH) 3 and heated to 500 to 800°C. The trevorite content in samples (up to 40 mass%) was measured with x-ray diffraction. Viable samples were rerun with KReO 4. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy detected that Re became partly immobilized in spinel-forming crystals.v