Surface Alteration of Borosilicate and Phosphate Nuclear Waste Glasses by Hydration and Irradiation

Bella Y. Zubekhina, Boris E. Burakov and Michael I. Ojovan
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Bella Y. Zubekhina: V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2nd Murinskiy Ave., Saint Peterburg 194021, Russia
Boris E. Burakov: V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2nd Murinskiy Ave., Saint Peterburg 194021, Russia
Michael I. Ojovan: Department of Radiochemistry, Moscow State University Named after M.V. Lomonosov, Leninskie Gory 1, Bd.3,Moscow 119991, Russia

Challenges, 2020, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-11

Abstract: We examined the degradation of nuclear waste borosilicate and phosphate glasses containing strong alpha-emitter 238 Pu at a specific activity of 6.33 × 10 5 MBq/g in comparison with similar non-radioactive, non-radioactive irradiated and radioactive samples containing beta- and gamma-emitters, namely radionuclides 134 Cs and 137 Cs. For irradiation and leaching experiments, we used borosilicate and phosphate glasses, which are well-known and currently used to immobilize high-level radioactive waste. The main focus was the observation of the surface of altered glasses. Comparative analysis of hydrolytic surface alteration of borosilicate and phosphate nuclear waste glasses reveals that the behavior of radioactive samples differs significantly from that of non-radioactive glasses.

Keywords: nuclear waste; borosilicate glass; phosphate glass; hydration; irradiation; self-irradiation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jchals:v:11:y:2020:i:2:p:14-:d:388312

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