Synroc tailored waste forms for actinide immobilization

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dc.contributor.authorGregg, DJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorVance, ERen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-17T00:34:45Zen_AU
dc.date.available2018-09-17T00:34:45Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2016-12-12en_AU
dc.date.statistics2018-09-16en_AU
dc.description.abstractSince the end of the 1970s, Synroc at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has evolved from a focus on titanate ceramics directed at PUREX waste to a platform waste treatment technology to fabricate tailored glass–ceramic and ceramic waste forms for different types of actinide, high- and intermediate level wastes. The particular emphasis for Synroc is on wastes which are problematic for glass matrices or existing vitrification process technologies. In particular, nuclear wastes containing actinides, notably plutonium, pose a unique set of requirements for a waste form, which Synroc ceramic and glass-ceramic waste forms can be tailored to meet. Key aspects to waste form design include maximising the waste loading, producing a chemically durable product, maintaining flexibility to accommodate waste variations, a proliferation resistance to prevent theft and diversion, and appropriate process technology to produce waste forms that meet requirements for actinide waste streams. Synroc waste forms incorporate the actinides within mineral phases, producing products which are much more durable in water than baseline borosilicate glasses. Further, Synroc waste forms can incorporate neutron absorbers and 238U which provide criticality control both during processing and whilst within the repository. Synroc waste forms offer proliferation resistance advantages over baseline borosilicate glasses as it is much more difficult to retrieve the actinide and they can reduce the radiation dose to workers compared to borosilicate glasses. Major research and development into Synroc at ANSTO over the past 40 years has included the development of waste forms for excess weapons plutonium immobilization in collaboration with the US and for impure plutonium residues in collaboration with the UK, as examples. With a waste loading of 40–50 wt.%, Synroc would also be considered a strong candidate as an engineered waste form for used nuclear fuel and highly enriched uranium-rich wastes. © 2011–2018 by Walter de Gruyter GmbHen_AU
dc.identifier.citationGregg, D. J., & Vance, E.R. (2016). Synroc tailored waste forms for actinide immobilization. Radiochimica Acta, 105(11), 907-925. doi:10.1515/ract-2016-2604en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc7547en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0033-8230en_AU
dc.identifier.issue11en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleRadiochimica Actaen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination907-925en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2016-2604en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/9002en_AU
dc.identifier.volume105en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherDe Gruyteren_AU
dc.subjectSynthetic rocksen_AU
dc.subjectSynthetic materialsen_AU
dc.subjectTitanatesen_AU
dc.subjectPurex processen_AU
dc.subjectCeramicsen_AU
dc.subjectRadioactive wastesen_AU
dc.subjectBorosphosphate glassen_AU
dc.subjectNeutron absorbersen_AU
dc.subjectPlutoniumen_AU
dc.subjectWastesen_AU
dc.titleSynroc tailored waste forms for actinide immobilizationen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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