EP0042770A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of immobilizing nuclear waste in glass
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1981-06-25
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2001-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method of immobilizing nuclear waste in glass. A composition is prepared of 60 to 100% of a hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound and up to about 40% of a glass-forming aluminum compound. About 1 to about 50% liquid nuclear waste and up to about 10% solid nuclear waste is mixed into the composition. The composition is heated to about 200 to about 500°C to drive off water and organics, with the resulting vitreous product totally containing the nuclear waste. Finally, this product can be sintered at about 800 to about 900°C to reduce porosity, or worm pressed into block form.
Inventors
- 👤 Don Edward Harrison
- 👤 James Michael Pope
- 👤 Susan Wood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:42
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/04; G21F9/06; G21F9/16; G21F9/28; G21F9/30; G21F9/301; G21F9/302; G21F9/305
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of immobilizing nuclear waste characterized by (A) preparing a composition which comprises: (1) from 60% to about 100% by weight, calculated as SiO 2 , of a hydrolyzed silicon compound having the general formula SiR m (OR') n X p or Si(OSiR) 4 where each R is independently selected from alkyl to C 10 and alkenyl to C 10 , each R' is independently selected from R and aryl, each X is independently selected from chlorine and bromine, m is 0 to 3, n is 0 to 4, p is 0 to 1, and m + n + p equals 4; (2) up to about 40% by weight, calculated as Al 2 O 3 , of an aluminum compound having the general formula AlR' q (OR) r X s or Mg(Al(OR) 4 ) 2 , where each R is independently selected from alkyl to C 10 and alkenyl to C10, each R' is independently selected from R or aryl, q is 0 to 3, r is 0 to 3, s is 0 to 1, and q + r + s equals 3; (B) mixing from 1 to 50%, based on total weight, of said nuclear waste in liquid form into said composition; (C) mixing up to about 10%, based on total weight, of said nuclear waste in solid form into said composition; and (D) heating said composition containing said nuclear waste at from 200 to 500°C to drive off water and organics.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of immobilizing nuclear waste characterized by (A) preparing a composition which comprises: (1) from 60% to about 100% by weight, calculated as SiO 2 , of a hydrolyzed silicon compound having the general formula SiR m (OR') n X p or Si(OSiR) 4 where each R is independently selected from alkyl to C 10 and alkenyl to C 10 , each R' is independently selected from R and aryl, each X is independently selected from chlorine and bromine, m is 0 to 3, n is 0 to 4, p is 0 to 1, and m + n + p equals 4; (2) up to about 40% by weight, calculated as Al 2 O 3 , of an aluminum compound having the general formula AlR' q (OR) r X s or Mg(Al(OR) 4 ) 2 , where each R is independently selected from alkyl to C 10 and alkenyl to C10, each R' is independently selected from R or aryl, q is 0 to 3, r is 0 to 3, s is 0 to 1, and q + r + s equals 3; (B) mixing from 1 to 50%, based on total weight, of said nuclear waste in liquid form into said composition; (C) mixing up to about 10%, based on total weight, of said nuclear waste in solid form into said composition; and (D) heating said composition containing said nuclear waste at from 200 to 500°C to drive off water and organics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized by including, after driving off water and organics, the additional step of sintering the composition at from 800 to 900°C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the last step of warm pressing said composition at from 350 to 600°C at from 30,000 to 150,000 psi.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
4 . A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the nuclear waste is about 5% to saturated with solids and comprises about up to about 15% nitrate, up to 85% water, and up to about 10% undissolved solids.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the silicon compound has the general formula SiR m (OR') n X p where R' is alkyl to C 4 and n = 4 and the aluminum compound has the general formula AlR' q (OR) r X s where R is alkyl to C 4 and r is 3.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 5 characterized in that the silicon compound is tetraethylorthosilicate and the aluminum compound is aluminum secondary butoxide.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
49 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the silicon compound is hydrolyzed in alcohol at a molar ratio of silicon compound to alcohol of from 0.2 to 2, with water at a molar ratio of silicon compound to water of from 0.1 to 5.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
32 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composition comprises from 70 to 90% of the silicon compound and from 10 to 30% of the aluminum compound.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.