Waste form evaluation for RECl3 and REOx fission products separated from used electrochemical salt. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Riley, Brian J.; Pierce, David A.; Crum, Jarrod V.; Williams, Benjamin D.; Snyder, Michelle M.V.; Peterson, Jacob A.
• Is Part Of: Progress in nuclear energy. Volume 104(2018)
• Page Start: 102
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Electrorefiner -- Tellurite glass -- LABS glass; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 333.7924
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2017.09.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-1970

Abstract

Abstract: The work presented here is based off the concept that the rare earth chloride (RECl3 ) fission products within the used electrorefiner (ER) salt can be selectively removed as RECl3 (not yet demonstrated) or precipitated out as a mixture of REOCl and REO x through oxygen sparging (has been demonstrated). This paper presents data showing the feasibility of immobilizing a mixture of RECl3 s at 10 mass% into a 78%TeO2 -22%PbO glass while also showing that this same mixture of RECl3 s can be oxidized to REOCl at 300 °C and then to REO x by 1200 °C, evolving Cl2(g) . When the REO x mixture is heated at temperatures >1200 °C, the ratios of REO x s change. The mixture of REO x was then immobilized in a lanthanide borosilicate (LABS) glass at a high loading of 60 mass%. Both the 78%TeO2 -22%PbO glass and LABS glass systems show good chemical durability. The advantages and disadvantages of tellurite and LABS glasses are compared.