XAS study of Pu and Np incorporation in zirconolite
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1998
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australasian Ceramic Society
Abstract
Zirconolite is the key Synroc phase for the immobilisation of actinide-rich radioactive
waste. The successful incorporation of actinide elements into zirconolite is critically
dependent upon a knowledge of the prevailing valence state and site location for each of
the elements under the selected processing atmosphere. A series of Ce- (used as a
nonradioactive simulant for Pu) Pu- and Np-bearing zirconolites representing the
alternative valence states (+3 or +4) and site locations (Ca or Zr site) have been prepared
and sintered under a range of oxygen pressures, prior to being analysed by XRD and
analytical SEM. From these techniques the valence states and site locations of the actinide
elements have been interred. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) however offers an
opportunity to determine these properties directly. These results will be discussed, and
preliminary conclusions drawn about the role of cerium as a nonradioactive simulant for
plutonium.
Description
CD-Rom held by ANSTO Library at DDC: 620.14/67. File name: SYMP16A.pdf
Keywords
Zirconolite, Synroc process, Synthetic rocks, Actinides, High-level radioactive wastes, Plutonium, Scanning Electron microscopy, Zirconium, Neptunium, Cerium, Calcium, X-ray diffraction
Citation
Begg, B. D., & Vance, E. R. (1998). XAS study of Pu and Np incorporation in zirconolite. Presentation to PacRim2: the 2nd Iternational Meeting of Pacific Rim Ceramic Societies (incorporating Austceram 96) : 15-17 July 1996, Cairns, Australia. In Walls, P., Sorrell, C. C., Ruys, A., Australasian Ceramic Society., Pacific Rim Ceramic Society., & International Ceramic Society. (1998). PacRim2: the 2nd international meeting of Pacific Rim Ceramic Societies (incorporating Austceram 96) : 15-17 July 1996, Cairns, Australia. In International ceramic monographs; Vol. 2, Menai, NSW : Australasian Ceramic Society.