The role of titanate ceramics in immobilisation of wastes arising from partitioning and weapons disposition

Abstract

The development of ceramics for the immobilisation of radioactive wastes has been on-going at ANSTO since 1980 and has involved collaboration with JAERI, the USDOE, LLNL and other international laboratories. This work has examined various processing routes, radiation damage effects and long-term aqueous durability for a range of titanate ceramics. Within these studies, information on the long-term behaviour of ceramics chosen to immobilities excess Pu and actinide-rich wastes arising from partitioning strategies have been obtained. Overall, the long-term durability, limitations on criticality under processing and disposal conditions and existence of viable natural analogues endorse the use of titanate ceramics for immobilisation of actinide-rich wastes. © 2002 Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute