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Incorporation of Transuranic Elements in Titanate Nuclear Waste Ceramics
Author(s) -
Matzke Hansjoachim,
Ray Ian L. F.,
Seatonberry Brian W.,
Thiele Hartmut,
Trisoglio Claudio,
Walker Clive T.,
White Timothy J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.1990.tb06520.x
Subject(s) - transuranium element , plutonium , purex , americium , actinide , radioactive waste , radiochemistry , spent nuclear fuel , zirconolite , waste management , ceramic , nuclear reprocessing , materials science , nuclear transmutation , nuclear chemistry , chemistry , metallurgy , nuclear physics , phase (matter) , pyrochlore , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography , neutron , engineering , extraction (chemistry) , solvent extraction
The incorporation of actinide elements and their rare‐earth element analogues in titanate nuclear waste forms is reviewed. New partitioning data are presented for three waste forms containing Purex waste simulant in combination with either NpO 2 , PuO 2 , or Am 2 O 3 . The greater proportion of transuranics partition between perovskite and zirconolite, while some americium may enter loveringite. Autoradiography revealed clusters of plutonium atoms which have been interpreted as unreacted dioxide or sesquioxide. It is concluded that the solid‐state behavior of transuranic elements in titanate waste forms is poorly understood, certainly not well enough to tailor a ceramic for the incorporation of waste from reprocessing of fast breeder reactor fuel in which transuranic species are more abundant than in Purex waste.