Synroc technology: Perspectives and current status (Review). Issue 10 (9th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gregg, Daniel J.; Farzana, Rifat; Dayal, Pranesh; Holmes, Rohan; Triani, Gerry
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Ceramic Society. Volume 103:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: 5424
• Page End: 5441
• Publication Date: 2020-07-09
• Subjects: Ceramics -- Periodicals; 620.1405
• DOI: 10.1111/jace.17322
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-7820

Abstract

Abstract: Dr Eric (Lou) Vance spent 32 years at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), where he was dedicated to the development of Synroc technology, a waste treatment solution for intractable nuclear wastes. The original form of Synroc, a multiphase ceramic wasteform based on stable and leach resistant titanate minerals, was invented by Australian scientists in the late 1970s. This formulation was directed toward the immobilization of PUREX wastes from the reprocessing of nuclear fuels. Synroc at ANSTO under the scientific leadership of Dr Vance since evolved beyond these original titanate ceramics into a waste treatment technology platform. This platform can be applied to produce glass, glass‐ceramic and ceramic wasteforms and offers distinct advantages in terms of waste loading and suppressing volatile losses. The platform therefore provides an opportunity to treat those waste streams that are problematic for glass matrices alone or existing vitrification process technologies. Such wastes include, for example, actinide‐bearing wastes, those that contain large proportions of refractory elements, those with significant fission product or corrosive volatile emissions and those wastes resulting from radiopharmaceutical production. The implementation of the latter will see the industrialization of Synroc technology via a first‐of‐a‐kind Synroc Waste Treatment Facility that is currently under construction at ANSTO. This paper will review Synroc technology, particularly noting the substantial and essential contributions from the late Dr Vance. The review will also provide some perspective on the development of the technology for nuclear waste immobilization and describe the significant recent advancements at ANSTO. Abstract :