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US4759879A
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Glass former composition and method for immobilizing nuclear waste using the same
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1986-01-28
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Granted: 1988-07-26
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Expires: 2006-01-28
Abstract
Abstract An alkoxide glass former composition has silica-containing constituents present as solid particulates of a particle size of 0.1 to 0.7 micrometers in diameter in a liquid carrier phase substantially free of dissolved silica. The glass former slurry is resistant to coagulation and may contain other glass former metal constituents. The immobilization of nuclear waste employs the described glass former by heating the same to reduce the volume, mixing the same with the waste, and melting the resultant mixture to encapsulate the waste in the resultant glass.
Inventors
- 👤 Laurence H. Cadoff
- 👤 David B. Smith-Magowan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:51
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03C; C03C1/00; C03C1/006; G; G21; G21F; G21F9/00; G21F9/28; G21F9/30; G21F9/301; G21F9/302; G21F9/305; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31652; Y10T428/31663
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
In a glass forming slurry for use in immobilizing nuclear waste where said slurry comprises alkoxide glass forming components containing hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound in a liquid carrier, the improvement which makes slurry resistant to coagulation, comprising using said hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound in the form of particulate solids having a particle size of 0.1-0.7 micrometer in diameter, so that said liquid carrier phase is substantially free of dissolved hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a glass forming slurry for use in immobilizing nuclear waste where said slurry comprises alkoxide glass forming components containing hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound in a liquid carrier, the improvement which makes slurry resistant to coagulation, comprising using said hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound in the form of particulate solids having a particle size of 0.1-0.7 micrometer in diameter, so that said liquid carrier phase is substantially free of dissolved hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The glass forming slurry as defined in claim 1 wherein said particulate solids are substantially spherical in form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The glass forming slurry as defined in claim 2 wherein said particulate solids have a particle size of 0.2-0.5 micrometer in diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
The glass forming slurry as defined in claim 1 wherein said particulate solids are formed by hydrolysis of a silicon compound having the general formula SiRm(OR') n X p or Si(OSiR 3 ) 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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The glass forming slurry as defined in claim 1 wherein said particulate solids are formed by hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The glass forming slurry as defined in claim 1 wherein said glass forming slurry contains glass forming components selected from the group consisting of alkoxides, acids, or salts of boron, sodium, lithium, magnesium, calcium, titanium, zirconium, lanthanum, aluminum, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The glass forming slurry as defined in claim 1 wherein said particulate solids are present, calculated as SiO 2 , in an amount of 50 to 90 percent by weight of said glass forming components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a method of immobilizing nuclear waste in glass where a glass forming composition is prepared which comprises a slurry of alkoxide glass forming components containing hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound in a liquid carrier, where said composition is heated at an elevated temperature to reduce the volume thereof and provide a glass former, said glass former is mixed with nuclear waste at up to 500° C., and the resultant mixture is melted at about 700°-1500° C., the improvement which makes said composition resistant to coagulation comprising using said hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound in the form of particulate solids having a particle size of 0.1-0.7 micrometer in diameter, so that said liquid carrier is substantially free of said dissolved hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a method of immobilizing nuclear waste in glass where a glass forming composition is prepared which comprises a slurry of alkoxide glass forming components containing hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound in a liquid carrier, where said composition is heated at an elevated temperature to reduce the volume thereof and provide a glass former, said glass former is mixed with nuclear waste at up to 500° C., and the resultant mixture is melted at about 700°-1500° C., the improvement which makes said composition resistant to coagulation comprising using said hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound in the form of particulate solids having a particle size of 0.1-0.7 micrometer in diameter, so that said liquid carrier is substantially free of said dissolved hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method as defined in claim 8 wherein said hydrolyzed glass-forming silicon compound is formed by hydrolyzing a silicon compound having the general formula SiR m (OR') n X p or Si(OSiR 3 ) 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 in admixture with an alcohol-water carrier in the presence of an excess of a fugitive base catalyst.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said fugitive base catalyst is ammonia and is present in an amount of a 1.5 to 20 molar ratio of ammonia to alkoxide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said silicon compound is tetraethylorthosilicate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein a boron alkoxide is provided in said slurry and said boron alkoxide is hydrolyzed in admixture with an alcohol-water carrier in the presence of an excess of a fugitive base catalyst.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A glass immobilized nuclear waste prepared according to the process of claim 8.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A glass immobilized nuclear waste prepared according to the process of claim 10.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The glass forming slurry as defined in claim 1 wherein said slurry contains nuclear waste.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-26 | 1992-01-25 | 1992-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-26 | 1996-01-25 | 1996-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-26 | 2000-01-25 | 2000-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |