Pyrochlore based glass-ceramics for the immobilization of actinide-rich nuclear wastes: from concept to reality

Abstract

Pyrochlore based glass-ceramics have been developed, from concept to reality, for the immobilization of actinide-rich nuclear wastes. Compared with zirconolite based glass-ceramics, they are less sensitive to the processing redox conditions and can double actinide waste loadings thus decreasing volumes of the consolidated waste forms, and subsequently reducing the interim storage and disposal costs. More importantly, they provide an alternative flexible system to tackle radioactive wastes arising from the advanced nuclear reactors. © 2012, Elsevier B.V.