EP0046085A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of encapsulating nuclear waste
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1981-08-11
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-08-11
Abstract
Abstract Method of encapsulating a solution of nuclear waste, where the nuclear waste is at least 10% sodium or nitrate. A composition is prepared in an alcohol of from 1 to 99% of a silicon alkoxide and from 1 to 99% of a boron alkoxide. The pH of the nuclear waste solution is adjusted to from 4 to 6 and the pH of the composition is adjusted to match. The composition is dried to from 50 to 75% of its original volume and is mixed with up to about 30% of the solution of nuclear waste, thereby forming a gel. The mixture is dried and heated at up to about 500°C. Finally, it is consolidated either by warm pressing at from 400 to 800°C at from 40,000 to 100,000 psi, or by melting at from 700 to 1150°C.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Wesley Chickering
- 👤 Bulent Erturk Yoldas
- 👤 Bruce Harmon Neuman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:38
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C1/00; C03C1/002; C03C1/006; G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/04; G21F9/06; G21F9/16; G21F9/162; G21F9/28; G21F9/30; G21F9/301; G21F9/302; G21F9/305; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S65/00; Y10S65/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of encapsulating an aqueous solution of nuclear waste characterized by adjusting the pH of said solution of nuclear waste to from 4 to 6; preparing a composition in an alcohol which consists essentially of from 1 to 99% by weight of a silicon compound having the general formula Si(OR) 4 where each R is independently selected from alkyl to e 6 and from 1 to 99% by weight of a boron compound having the general formula B(OR) 3 where each R is independently selected from alkyl to C 6 , said composition being partially hydrolyzed; adjusting the pH of said composition to about the pH of said solution of nuclear waste; drying said composition to from 50 to 75% of its original volume; mixing together up to about 30% by weight of said solution of nuclear waste with said composition, based on total weight, to form a gel; drying the mixture at a temperature between room temperature and the boiling pont of said alcohol; heating said mixture at up to 500°C; consolidating said mixture by warm pressing at from 400 to 800°C at from 40,000 to 100,000 psi; or melting said mixture at from 700 to 1150°C.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A method of encapsulating an aqueous solution of nuclear waste characterized by adjusting the pH of said solution of nuclear waste to from 4 to 6; preparing a composition in an alcohol which consists essentially of from 1 to 99% by weight of a silicon compound having the general formula Si(OR) 4 where each R is independently selected from alkyl to e 6 and from 1 to 99% by weight of a boron compound having the general formula B(OR) 3 where each R is independently selected from alkyl to C 6 , said composition being partially hydrolyzed; adjusting the pH of said composition to about the pH of said solution of nuclear waste; drying said composition to from 50 to 75% of its original volume; mixing together up to about 30% by weight of said solution of nuclear waste with said composition, based on total weight, to form a gel; drying the mixture at a temperature between room temperature and the boiling pont of said alcohol; heating said mixture at up to 500°C; consolidating said mixture by warm pressing at from 400 to 800°C at from 40,000 to 100,000 psi; or melting said mixture at from 700 to 1150°C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized in that R is C2H5'
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the composition is aged before said solution of nuclear waste is mixed with it.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that the gel is aged prior to drying.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to any of claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the amount of the silicon compound in the composition is from 65 to 95% and the amount of said boron compound in said composition is from 5 to 35%.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the nuclear waste is an aqueous solution having a solids content of from 5 to 50%.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the composition is partially hydrolyzed after the silicon compound and the boron compound have been mixed together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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