Research Progress of Immobilization of High-Level Nuclear Waste by Using Phosphate Glass-Ceramics

Abstract

Phosphate based glass-ceramic, having high waste loading and excellent chemical durability, is an excellent matrix for immobilizing “insoluble” nuclear waste. Therefore, immobilization of high-level nuclear waste by using phosphate based glass-ceramics is one of the important methods. In this paper, the types of phosphate glass-ceramic wasteforms, mechanism of immobilization, design and stability of phosphate based glass-ceramic wasteforms and their preparation methods were briefly summarized. Moreover, their research trends were prospected. The main research trends include: (1) the medium- and long-term chemical durability, corrosion laws and corrosion mechanism, and the physical properties, irradiation resistance and thermal stability of phosphate glass-ceramic wasteforms; (2) the simple preparation technologies for synthesizing phosphate glass-ceramic wasteforms and their principles, and their influence on the erosion and life span of equipment and electrodes.

Keywords

• nuclear waste
• glass-ceramic wasteforms
• phosphate glass-ceramics
• stability
• preparation technology